Expedia Group fills vacant CTO role with former Fanatics exec

Five months after dismissing chief
technology officer Rathi Murthy and a senior engineering leader due to “a
violation of company policy,” Expedia Group has named Ramana Thumu to the role
of CTO.

Thumu will join the company in December after spending a
decade at digital sports platform Fanatics Commerce, most recently as chief
product and technology officer. Prior to Fanatics Thumu had worked for 10 years
at Ebay in engineering and product roles. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Ramana to our leadership team as
our new chief technology officer,” said Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group.

“Ramana’s extensive experience in successfully building and
managing multi-tenant tech platforms will be invaluable for our company’s
future. His passion for tackling big challenges and making meaningful impact,
combined with his people-centric approach, truly set him apart. I am confident
Ramana will be an exceptional addition to our leadership team and play a
critical role in Expedia Group’s growth.”

Thumu joins the global online travel agency at a time when
it is investing in technology on a variety of fronts, including using
generative AI to assist travelers through Expedia.com’s
Romie chatbot, refining its OneKey
loyalty program, offering shoppable
storefronts for content creators, growing its travel
media network and expanding offerings
for B2B partners.

“I am
incredibly excited to join Expedia Group as CTO, combining my passion for
technology, data, and travel,” Thumu said. 

“I look
forward to working with Ariane and her talented leadership team to build
innovative solutions that enhance the customer experience and empower more
people to explore the world. Travel has a unique ability to create
unforgettable experiences, and I’m eager to lead the technology organization in
pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to drive the next generation of
travel innovation.”

Murthy and Sreenivas Rachamadugu, senior vice president of
core services product and engineering, were let go in May days after Expedia
Group’s Explore 24 partner event in Las Vegas.

In a statement provided to PhocusWire, the company said, “This decision is the
result of a violation of Company policy. We’re actively searching to fill these
roles and remain confident in our technology, strategy and employees. Due to
confidentiality, we will not be making any further comments on the matter.” 

Murthy had joined Expedia Group in 2021.