Former White House press secretary Jay Carney is becoming a member of Airbnb to move coverage and communications, following a seven-year stint at Amazon the place he led the lobbying and media relations group.
Before shifting to Amazon in 2015, Carney spent five-and-a-half years within the administration of Barack Obama from 2009-14, starting as director of communications for then-vice president Joe Biden.
Carney will begin at Airbnb in September and report on to chief government Brian Chesky, who mentioned on Friday his new rent’s expertise “at the highest levels of both government and technology”, made him the “perfect person” to guide coverage and communications on the property rental firm.
For Amazon, the transfer is the most recent in a run of high-level departures from the ecommerce group in latest weeks, together with the exit of Dave Clark, a 23-year veteran who led its client enterprise.
Carney joined Amazon within the wake of the corporate having doubled its spending on lobbying the prior three years, as its scorching development coincided with scrutiny over its tradition and enterprise conduct. He reported on to then-chief government Jeff Bezos.
During his tenure, Carney handled points together with a rising antitrust motion in opposition to Amazon, its controversial seek for a second headquarters, and staff’ complaints over working circumstances.
Workers at some services this 12 months launched unions, strikes which were supported by Biden. In April the president gave a pro-union speech on the rising labour battle at Amazon, telling the corporate: “Here we come.”
Bezos stepped down as Amazon chief government final 12 months and was changed by Andy Jassy, his longtime deputy. Jassy has since been battling points together with employees shortages and mounting operational prices.
News of Carney’s appointment got here a day after Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia introduced he would step down from his full-time working function.
Before becoming a member of the White House, Carney was a journalist at Time journal for 20 years. In that point, he coated the collapse of the Soviet Union as Moscow correspondent earlier than shifting to Washington the place he reported on the White House, Congress after which rose to grow to be bureau chief.
Against a backdrop of rate of interest rises by the Federal Reserve, Amazon’s share worth is down by 27 per cent this 12 months, in contrast with a 17 per cent drop within the S&P 500. Airbnb shares are down 38 per cent over the identical interval.
Source: www.ft.com