Airbnb has recently appointed Ken Chenault, the outgoing CEO of American Express, to its board of directors effective Feb. 8, 2018, in efforts to help implement their 21st-century vision for the company. He is the first non-affiliated, independent member of their board.
As stated in a recent write up by Airbnb Co-Founder, CEO, and Head of Community Brian Chesky, “Ken has built one of the most successful trust-based companies in the world. It is a company that has endured and innovated for nearly 168 years. Ken and I spent time talking about the 21st-century model and in particular the role of trust as the infrastructure for such a model. Ken also believes deeply that, now more than ever, companies need to stand for values, character, and competence. As he says, “I think corporations exist because society allows us to exist. Corporations are not entitled to exist. So I think we have a responsibility and an obligation to help improve society.”
Airbnb is taking massive steps to foster an inclusive community. Prior to this, they announced Danny Glover as a Brand Ambassador stating that “Airbnb is excited to welcome Danny Glover to our community as an adviser for our efforts to engage communities of color and ensure they are able to take advantage of the economic opportunity of hosting on our platform. Many people know Mr. Glover from his memorable performances in world-renowned films and television programs, but progressives throughout America and the world know Mr. Glover as a steadfast advocate for social justice,” stated Janaye Ingram, director of partnerships for Airbnb.
Additionally, they have made it a priority to support African American hosts by engaging with them directly through hosted dinners with execs and going on Experiences led by African American trip hosts.