Trivago Chief Financial Officer Axel Hefer will replace co-founder and CEO Rolf Schrömgens at the end of the year, the company announced.

Hefer told Cheddar in an interview Tuesday the company had been working on a succession plan since he joined the company three years ago.

Schrömgens's co-founders Peter Vinnemeier and Stephan Stubner left the company in 2018. Hefer told Cheddar Schrömgens felt it was time for him "to move into a more passive role." Schrömgens will join the advisory board and give up his board of directors seat.

Trivago's stock was down about 19 percent after the surprising announcement, made along with the Q3 earnings report.

"Our third quarter overall came in softer than expected," he said. The company expects a smaller Q4 revenue than last year.

Hefer said the stock price reaction "is a combination of both filings and, obviously, very difficult to say which part of the drop is associated to the different news."

Hefer said the company has been focused on profitability after losing a "substantial sums of money" in the first half of 2018.

Share:
More In Business
Stretching Your Dollar: What to Know About Changes to FAFSA
Applying for financial aid for college is a long process but there's a new streamlined application for federal student aid. Mark Kantrowitz, student loan expert, joined Cheddar News to explain the FAFSA form and what kind of changes are expected.
Stretching Your Dollar: Caring for Your Pets This Holiday Season
With all of the stress surrounding the holiday season with gift-buying and planning family gatherings, it could be a chaotic time for all members of your family, including pets. Cesar Milan and Michael Ehrman, co-founders of Halo Collar, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on how to keep your pets stress-free for the upcoming holiday season.
United Airlines Introduces Self-Serve Snack Bar
United Airlines has introduced a new self-serve snack bar on its flights allowing economy passengers to help themselves to free snacks instead of relying on a flight attendant to get them.
Load More