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Ron Klain, the former chief of staff to President Biden, has been named the new chief legal officer of Airbnb, starting next year, as announced by the company on Monday.

Airbnb’s co-founder and CEO, Brian Chesky, praised Klain’s appointment: “Ron is both a big-picture strategic thinker and a highly skilled operator, and I’m thrilled he’ll be a close advisor.” Chesky further praised Klain’s intellect, judgment, and empathy, describing him as a perfect fit for the team.

Klain, 62, has a history of significant roles in the political arena, notably serving as Biden’s top adviser from the onset of his presidency in 2021 until late January of this year. He was instrumental in negotiating major legislative initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Klain’s prior experience includes roles as Biden’s chief counsel in the Senate Judiciary Committee and chief of staff during the Obama administration. Earlier this year, he rejoined the global law firm O’Melveny & Myers as a partner, a position he previously held from 1999-2004.

In a statement, Klain expressed his excitement about joining Airbnb, highlighting his belief in the power of travel to foster connection and cultural understanding. “I was proud to rejoin O’Melveny & Myers earlier this year… but the opportunity to work for Brian [Chesky] and join his incredible executive team was impossible to pass up,” Klain said.

He is set to commence his new role at the San Francisco-based company in January. This move follows Jay Carney, former White House press secretary under Obama, who joined Airbnb as the head of policy in September 2022 after leaving Amazon.