Henrik Kjellberg, CEO of vacation rental platform Awaze, is leaving the company after six years in the role, the company confirmed.
Kjellberg has led the company since 2018 when it was formed through the acquisition of the European rental arms of Wyndham Worldwide by Platinum Equity for $1.3 billion.
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It was named Awaze in 2019 with brands including Hoseasons, James Villas and Landal Greenparks at the time. Since then it has focused on rental homes, selling Landal Greenparks in 2021 and shutting down James Villas in late 2023.
The company has also made a number of acquisitions to boost its vacation rental home portfolio in the United Kingdom and Denmark.
A rumor circulated in 2022 that Platinum Equity’s was seeking to sell Awaze for $2 billion and had hired banks to oversee the sale.
Awaze said Matthew Price, the company’s chief financial officer will lead the business until a new CEO is appointed.
“During his six years as CEO Henrik has cemented the company’s position as Europe’s leading vacation rental management business; expanding Awaze’s product portfolio, modernizing its technology stack and strengthening our guest and owner experiences," an Awaze spokesperson said. "He has helped build very strong foundations for the long-term success of Awaze and we are very excited about 2025 and further strengthening our partnerships with homeowners and guests. We would like to thank him for everything he has done for Awaze and wish him every success for the future."
Kjellberg joined a panel on the evolution of short-term rentals at Phocuswright Europe last year. It touched on regulation, the gap between hotels and rentals and friction in the consumer journey. Watch the full session below.
Short Term Rentals at a Crossroads? Interhome, Bob W., Awaze, Guesty Phocuswright Europe 2024