Kayak CEO Steve Hafner Exits Post After 22 Years

Kayak co-founder and CEO Steve Hafner, who took the company public in 2012 and sold it to Booking Holdings for $2.1 billion the next year, is out as CEO after 22 years.

Parent company Booking Holdings announced Tuesday morning that it appointed chief financial officer Peer Bueller as Kayak CEO, and Hafner has become executive chair, a newly created position.

The announcement did not give a reason for the leadership shuffle, but said Hafner “will take on a new leadership role at Booking Holdings focused on advancing AI innovation.” The company provided no further details on the new role.

Bueller became Kayak CFO in 2016 and added chief operating officer to his duties i