Google X’s Self-Driving Car unit hired Shaun Stewart, a high-level Airbnb executive, in a move that appears to underscore the Alphabet Inc. project’s transition from R&D initiative to commercial operation. Stewart, who was global head of vacation rentals for Airbnb, is now a director for the Google X program, Forbes wrote. He arrives in the wake of the decision of former chief technology officer, Chris Urmson, to leave Google earlier this month. Stewart is particularly experienced in the hospitality business as, prior to Airbnb, he was a vice president for sales and operations at TripAdvisor’s Jetsetter unit. Johnny Luu, a spokesman for Google X, confirmed the hiring of Stewart, which was reported earlier by Reuters. He declined to elaborate on the scope of Stewart’s role within the Self-Driving Car team. Google has been road testing robotic vehicles for more than six years, but has yet to outline a clear timetable or plan to turn the well-funded program into a revenue-generating business.
