Former Pinterest executive will connect partners with high-intent travelers at scale
Seattle – June 1, 2026 — Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) today announced the appointment of Bill Watkins as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Advertising, within the company’s global Marketing organization.
In his new role, Watkins will oversee the continued growth of Expedia Group Advertising as it scales its travel media network and deepens partnerships globally. He will report to Jochen Koedijk, Chief Marketing Officer, and partner closely with teams that manage Expedia Group’s major advertiser relationships, large‑scale marketing investments, and loyalty programs.
“Expedia Group Advertising’s travel media network is built on confirmed future travel, not modeled intent,” said Koedijk. “Bill brings the exact experience we need to help partners drive full‑funnel impact and scale Expedia Group Advertising as a critical growth engine for the company. With Expedia Group Advertising now within our marketing organization, Bill and his team will help unlock the next phase of growth for the business - connecting our travel media network more directly with our marketing, audience insights, and loyalty capabilities to help us deliver even more effective, measurable solutions for advertisers.”
Watkins brings more than two decades of experience building and leading global advertising organizations for some of the world’s most influential technology platforms. Most recently, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at Pinterest, where he oversaw the growth of Pinterest’s advertising products and programs, international expansion, and performance‑driven, AI‑powered advertising offerings.
“At a moment when travel media is becoming a true performance engine for brands, what sets Expedia Group Advertising apart is the strength of its travel media network,” said Bill Watkins. “Whether through AI‑powered bidding, premium creative formats, or privacy‑safe, first‑party programmatic access, the opportunity to help partners engage travelers across the full journey and measure real business impact is incredibly compelling.”
Over the past year, Expedia Group has expanded its advertising capabilities, investing in AI‑powered tools, richer on‑site formats, and off‑platform reach to connect partners with high‑intent, high‑value audiences. Aligning Expedia Group Advertising within the Marketing organization is intended to deepen this momentum by pairing the company’s media network with its global brand, performance marketing, and loyalty expertise.
“Expedia Group Advertising sits at the intersection of our strengths in travel, data, and media,” added Koedijk. “By bringing the team into Marketing, we better connect advertiser strategies with how travelers discover, plan, and book trips across our brands, creating more relevant experiences for travelers and more effective outcomes for partners.”
About Expedia Group
Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is the global travel marketplace with one purpose: to help travelers explore the world, one journey at a time. Expedia Group™ connects travelers, partners, and advertisers through its trusted brands, leading technology, and rich first-party data, delivering predictive, personalized experiences that shape the future of travel.
Expedia Group’s ecosystem includes three flagship consumer brands – Expedia®, Hotels.com®, and Vrbo® – the largest B2B travel business, and a premier advertising network. Guided by an experienced and passionate global team, Expedia Group helps millions of travelers in more than 70 countries explore the world with confidence and ease.
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For more information, visit www.expediagroup.com.
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