Airbnb pinches new finance chief from Amazon ahead of expected IPO

Airbnb has hired a former Amazon executive to head up its finance team as it looks towards an expected listing in 2019.

Dave Stephenson, a 17-year veteran of the online retail giant who most recently served as chief financial officer of the worldwide consumer unit, will join the accommodation platform in January next year.

He also spent almost a decade at Procter & Gamble and was head of finance at Big Fish Games.

“Dave is one of the best financial operators in the world and there’s no one better prepared to serve as our CFO,” chief executive Brian Chesky said.

“I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved, but Airbnb is just getting started.”

“In the years ahead, Dave will be Airbnb’s quarterback for long-term growth, driving us to be even more efficient and leverage what makes Airbnb unique to create new businesses and continue to expand,” he added.

Stephenson will fill a position which has been vacant since February when Laurence Tosi stepped down to focus on his investment fund.

At the time, chief executive Brian Chesky denied the company planned to list in 2018, adding “we’re working on getting ready to go public and we will make decisions about going public on our own timetable.”

Today Dave Stephenson said: “I am thrilled to be joining and bringing my experience leading fast-growing businesses at scale to help Airbnb accelerate its already incredible growth.

“There are tremendous opportunities to grow Airbnb’s existing businesses and invest in new ones that will help Airbnb grow stronger in the decades to come.”

The San Francisco-based company connects homeowners with renters or tourists wanting somewhere to stay.