In a surprising turn of events, Expedia announced the departure of two key executives, Rathi Murthy and Sreenivas Rachamadugu. The company revealed that Murthy, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Rachamadugu, Senior Vice President of Core Services Product & Engineering, are no longer employed at Expedia Group due to a violation of company policy.

Expedia, known for its popular travel booking services, stated that it is actively searching for replacements to fill these crucial roles. Despite the unexpected departures, the company expressed confidence in its technology, strategy, and remaining employees, assuring that operations will continue smoothly. However, due to confidentiality reasons, Expedia refrained from providing further details on the matter.

Murthy's departure came as a surprise, as she recently spoke to TechCrunch about the introduction of new AI-powered features, and even presented these features at an Expedia conference alongside business partners. In a statement, Murthy emphasized her commitment to the highest level of integrity throughout her career and expressed pride in her work at Expedia. She reassured that she will share her side of the story at the appropriate time, aiming to set the record straight.

Both Murthy and Rachamadugu joined Expedia in 2021, coming from Verizon Media (now Yahoo), the parent company of TechCrunch. Their expertise and contributions were expected to play a significant role in Expedia's future growth and innovation.

This leadership change is not the only recent shake-up within the company. Last February, Ariane Gorin was announced as Expedia Group's new CEO, and she officially assumed the position this week. Gorin will now lead the company through this transition period and continue steering the organization towards success.

As Expedia strives to maintain its position as a top travel booking platform amid ongoing industry challenges, the company's ability to swiftly fill the vacant leadership positions will be critical. Expedia remains focused on serving its customers and adapting to the rapidly changing travel landscape.

Update: Rathi Murthy has released a statement, reiterating her commitment to integrity and expressing her pride in her work at Expedia. She looks forward to sharing her perspective in due time.