Expedia Inc has appointed its finance chief Mark Okerstrom as new CEO following Dara Khosrowshahi’s departure to join Uber.
The company moved quickly to install a new chief executive, and also said Khosrowshahi will remain on Expedia’s board.
Okerstrom has been a fixture at Expedia since 2006, and has held the CFO position since 2011.
He was the first and only choice to succeed Khosrowshahi, says Expedia chairman Barry Diller.
"Prior to Dara leaving, Mark Okerstrom was his principal partner in operating the company — and therefore this transition is as natural as water flowing down a snow-packed mountain. There was no other candidate that the board considered," Diller said.
Okerstrom said the company’s current strategy will remain largely unchanged during his tenure.
"I’d assume largely a continuation of the course we’ve been on. M&A has always been in our DNA and it will be in our DNA in the future," Okerstrom told reporters.
He also hinted there may be closer ties with Uber resulting from Khosrowshahi’s move.
"There’s probably ways we can work much more closely together than we ever have before. Keep your eye out, maybe there will be something that comes out."
