Eric Hart departs Expedia Group, Williams-Sonoma exec named CFO

Eric Hart, executive vice president and CFO for Expedia Group, is leaving the company and will be succeeded by Julie Whalen, who most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Williams-Sonoma.

Hart has been at Expedia Group 13 years and is leaving October 1 “to pursue new opportunities,” according to a statement from the company. Hart will remain as chair of the supervisory board of directors of Trivago and on the board of Global Business Travel Group, the name of the company created by the public listing of American Express Global Business Travel.

“We thank Eric for his many contributions to Expedia Group during the past 13 years, not the least of which include nearly three years as the company’s CFO, where he was critical in successfully navigating the pandemic, all while helping me and other leaders guide the Company through a significant transformation,” says Peter Kern, vice chairman and CEO at Expedia Group.

Whalen had been with Williams-Sonoma since 2001 and spent 10 years as CFO. Since June 2019 she has been a member of Expedia Group’s board of directors and audit committee and has chaired the audit committee since June 2020. In her role as CFO she will resign as chair of the audit committee but remain a member of the board.

In her role as EVP and CFO, Whalen will lead Expedia Group’s global finance organization and financial activities including accounting, corporate development, financial reporting and analysis, internal audit, investor relations, real estate, tax and treasury.

“Julie is a highly respected financial executive with years of success as an operating leader. She comes with a background and commitment to understanding customers and driving long-term value. We are excited to bring Julie’s energy and drive to our leadership team and look forward to the impact she can bring to our finance organization and across our entire enterprise,” Kern says. 

Says Whalen, "I have developed a great a deal of respect and admiration for Expedia Group’s business and leadership team over the past three years through my Board position. I am excited to join Expedia at such a pivotal time and to help deliver on the Company’s growth strategies to maximize shareholder value.”