Airbnb COO Belinda Johnson to Leave the Company

Airbnb Chief Operating Officer Belinda Johnson will be leaving the company on March 1, 2020. Johnson, who joined the company in 2011, was Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky’s first executive hire. Prior to becoming chief operating officer, she was the chief business affairs and legal officer navigating the company through regulatory and legal challenges. In an email to staff that was viewed by CNBC, Johnson said that her decision to leave the company stems from her need to prioritize more time to spend with her family. She will not be leaving the company entirely as she will join the company’s board of directors as its ninth member. The news comes as Airbnb is preparing to make its initial public offering next year.