One of Airbnb’s earliest employees plans to leave his position atop the company’s “Experiences” division that sells travel tours and other activities, putting a spotlight on a division seen as key for Airbnb’s hopes of diversifying into a broader group of travel services than just accommodation, people familiar with the matter said.
Joe Zadeh has been Airbnb’s vice president of Experiences since the end of 2016, when the company set up the Experiences group. Zadeh, Airbnb’s ninth employee who is nicknamed “Joebot,” will shift to a position overseeing new initiatives, particularly related to the company’s plans to go public next year. He will remain atop Experiences until his successor is found.
