Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain has joined AirBnB as its chief legal officer, the company said Monday.
Klain, 62, will take on his new post in January at a difficult time for the online housing rental platform.
Many cities around the world have limited AirBnB’s operations severely, on grounds it raises the cost of housing while reducing supply.
In September, for instance, New York started barring landlords from renting apartments or rooms for periods of under 30 days, except under very strict conditions.
Klain held the key position of chief of staff for two years under Biden.
The chief of staff filters information entering and leaving the Oval Office, oversees dialogue with US lawmakers, manages what the White House communicates to the public, and manages staff issues.
“Ron is both a big-picture strategic thinker and a highly skilled operator, and I’m thrilled he’ll be a close advisor,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO, Brian Chesky.
