Jay Carney to Exit Airbnb, Lime Veteran Appointed Policy Chief
Airbnb is shaking up its executive leadership by appointing former Lime Chief Business Officer David Spielfogel as Global Head of Public Policy, succeeding Jay Carney while splitting policy and communications functions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- David Spielfogel, ex-Lime CBO and former Chicago City Hall official, becomes Airbnb's Global Head of Public Policy.
- He succeeds Jay Carney, who managed both policy and communications for Airbnb since July 2022 and is now departing.
- Airbnb is splitting policy and communications: Spielfogel will report to co-founder Nate Blecharczyk.
- Communications VP Fallon O'Connor will report directly to CEO Brian Chesky, shifting the company's regulatory approach.
Airbnb is replacing its top policy executive, as announced by CEO Brian Chesky in a company-wide email on Tuesday morning. David Spielfogel, who most recently served as chief business officer at Lime, will step into the role of Global Head of Public Policy.
Spielfogel brings extensive background in short-term rental policy, having worked for then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel from 2010 to 2016. He takes over from Jay Carney, who had led both policy and communications at Airbnb since July 2022 and is now leaving the company.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Under the previous leadership structure, Carney reported directly to Chesky and oversaw both departments. Moving forward, the functions will be separated: Spielfogel will report to co-founder Nate Blecharczyk, while Fallon O’Connor, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to CEO Brian Chesky.
Bringing in an operator with a deep background in municipal government and regulatory affairs signals that Airbnb might be shifting toward a more aggressive, hands-on approach when dealing with local authorities. Given the company's recent high-stakes battles in major urban markets, separating policy from communications allows dedicated leadership to tackle complex city-by-city regulations independently.
This leadership transition arrives amidst a mixed regulatory track record for Airbnb. While the company has secured legislative wins in states like Florida, it continues to face severe restrictions in key markets, including New York City under Local Law 18, Spain's order to remove over 65,000 listings, and Barcelona's planned phase-out of short-term rentals by 2029.
Source: Skift
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