Airbnb Appoints Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain as Chief Legal Officer

Airbnb Appoints Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain as Chief Legal Officer

Airbnb, the global hospitality platform, has unveiled the appointment of Ron Klain as its new Chief Legal Officer. Klain, a seasoned political strategist with a distinguished career spanning over four decades, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this critical role.

In his capacity as Chief Legal Officer, Klain will oversee all legal matters about Airbnb, providing strategic guidance and ensuring the company's adherence to the evolving legal landscape. His extensive experience in government and business, coupled with his keen understanding of complex legal issues will be instrumental in shaping Airbnb's legal strategy and safeguarding its interests.

Klain, with an impressive track record in both government and business, is most widely recognised for his tenure as White House Chief of Staff during President Joe Biden's first two years in office, where he played a pivotal role in navigating the complex political landscape and advancing the administration's agenda.

Before his White House appointment, Klain served as Chief of Staff to then-Vice President Biden and Vice President Al Gore. His early entry into this high-level position at just 34 years old made him the youngest Chief of Staff to a Vice President in American history.

“Ron is both a big-picture strategic thinker and a highly skilled operator, and I’m thrilled he’ll be a close advisor. People have described Ron as one of the smartest people they’ve ever met, but more than his intelligence, he’s known for his excellent judgment and his big heart. Ron is the perfect addition to our team,” said Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO, Brian Chesky.

Beyond his distinguished career in government, Klain brings substantial private-sector legal expertise to Airbnb. During his time as a partner at O'Melveny & Myers, he represented numerous technology and marketplace businesses in intricate litigation matters. Additionally, he held the position of Chief Legal Officer at Revolution, the venture capital firm founded by AOL co-founder Steve Case.

“I have always believed that travel is such an important part of creating connection and cultural understanding, and I am honoured to join Airbnb to further this important work. Airbnb has accomplished so much already, and I’m especially inspired by Brian’s vision for the company’s next chapter,” said Klain.

“I was proud to rejoin O’Melveny & Myers earlier this year and work with outstanding colleagues and clients, and I had planned to finish my career there, but the opportunity to work for Brian and join his incredible executive team was impossible to pass up,” Klain added.

A graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, Ron Klain will commence his tenure as Chief Legal Officer at Airbnb on January 1, 2024, reporting directly to Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder, Brian Chesky.