Airbnb has named Pepijn Rijvers as Chief Business Officer, with responsibility for the company’s Homes, Hotels, Global Markets, and Enterprise Operations businesses. Rijvers began the role on September 1, 2026.
Rijvers most recently served as Chief Business Officer at Tripadvisor Group, where he oversaw the company’s consumer businesses, Experiences, and Hotels. Before Tripadvisor, he spent 13 years at Booking.com in senior roles spanning accommodations, supply, marketing, and international growth.
At Booking.com, Rijvers helped build the company’s homes business, led one of its largest performance marketing operations, and ultimately served as Managing Director of Accommodations. He also contributed to the strategy that expanded Booking into flights and other parts of the travel journey.
Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky said Rijvers’ experience at Booking.com also gave him a clear understanding of how Airbnb can differentiate itself. Chesky described Booking as an intent-driven platform where travelers typically arrive knowing where they are going, while Airbnb has an opportunity to engage travelers earlier by helping them determine where to go, where to stay, and what to do once they arrive.
The appointment is part of a broader leadership and organizational transition at Airbnb following the departure of Dave Stephenson from his existing responsibilities. Stephenson previously served as Airbnb’s CFO for five years and later became its first Chief Business Officer, helping establish Hotels as a business and launch Services and Experiences as Airbnb expanded beyond homes.
As part of the reorganization, Partnerships will move to Hiroki, while Corporate Development & Strategy will move into Finance and report to Ellie Mertz.
Airbnb also named Fallon O’Connor as Head of Communications and People. O’Connor will lead Recruiting, Talent, and Belonging & Development, with those teams forming Airbnb’s People organization. She will also join the company’s executive team while Communications and People continue to operate as separate functions.
Performance & Rewards and Workplace Operations will also move under Finance and report to Mertz. Airbnb said bringing these teams closer to Finance should strengthen coordination around compensation, workplace investments, performance, and employee resources.
The leadership changes come as Airbnb continues expanding beyond its traditional home-sharing business into areas including hotels, services, and experiences while seeking to position the platform around more parts of a traveler’s overall trip.
KEY QUOTES:
“Pepijn was one of the strongest operators ever at Booking, and his experience there gave him a clear view of why Airbnb needs to follow a very different path. Booking is an intent platform: people arrive knowing where they’re going and use it to complete a transaction. Airbnb has the opportunity to start much earlier, helping people discover where to go, where to stay, and what to do when they get there. Pepijn believes that by helping people discover what makes a place special, Airbnb can become the most local brand in the world. He cares deeply about design, culture, and innovation, and the more time I’ve spent with him, the clearer it’s become that he has both the operating depth and the soul to be a transformational leader at Airbnb.”
Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb
