Airbnb Appointed New Leaders for Asian Markets
The company elevated internal veterans to oversee operations in China and broader Asia as it navigates regional growth.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in People
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Airbnb has appointed Zhiqiu Kong as Regional Director for Asia and Michael He as Country Manager for China. The leadership changes consolidate regional oversight for the travel platform across major markets including India, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
Why it matters
Internal promotions for long-tenured staff often signal a commitment to maintaining existing operational strategy during regional expansion. By aligning China operations under a dedicated lead reporting to the regional director, the firm is adjusting its organizational structure to manage local market complexities.
The appointments highlight internal talent retention with Zhiqiu Kong serving over 10 years at the company and Michael He holding nine years of experience. The scope of these roles covers operations across China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia.
The players
Airbnb
A global online marketplace for short-term homestays and vacation rentals.
Zhiqiu Kong
The new Regional Director for Asia who previously oversaw company operations in China.
Michael He
The new Country Manager for China who previously served as the firm's Business and Growth Operations Lead for the market.
The details
Zhiqiu Kong moves into the Regional Director role after previously leading operations in China, positioning her to bridge local market performance with broader Asian initiatives. Michael He, formerly the Business and Growth Operations Lead for China, will now serve as Country Manager and report directly to Kong. This reporting line formalizes the integration of the Chinese market into the company’s wider Asian operational hierarchy.
Timeline
Airbnb announced the new leadership appointments on September 23, 2026.
Market Landscape
This move follows the pattern set by the 2024 organizational restructuring of Airbnb's regional business units, further centralizing authority for key growth regions. These shifts reflect a broader industry trend toward placing established internal operators in charge of volatile cross-border markets.
Operators should monitor whether these leadership changes result in shifts to regional service fees or marketing partnerships within Asian markets. Business owners who rely on platform-driven demand in these territories should watch for new operational guidance from the regional office.
The takeaway
The appointment of decade-long veterans underscores the importance of institutional knowledge when managing complex, localized service markets. Operators should track how the new leadership team adjusts platform operations in China, Japan, and India to differentiate the company from regional competitors.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the industry's executive ranks, see our section on People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TTR Weekly.
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