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
Topless Protester Briefly Disrupts VW Annual Meeting
Volkswagen's annual shareholder meeting was briefly disrupted Wednesday by protests over the company's factory in China's Xinjiang province, with a shouting, topless activist interrupting the speech by CEO Oliver Blume before she was hustled away by security personnel.
Stretching Your Dollar: Tips for Budget-Conscious Homebuyers
The process to purchase a home nowadays can be a daunting one, especially with inflation and higher interest rates in tow. Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, joined Cheddar News to provide some tips for those looking to purchase a residence in a volatile environment.
Load More