Airbnb hires Blackstone CFO Tosi

AP Photo/Bebeto MatthewsSupporters of Airbnb hold a rally outside City Hall, Tuesday, January 20, 2015, in New York.Airbnb is reportedly in talks to hire a top CFO from one of Wall Street’s biggest firms.

Airbnb Inc.is close to hiring Blackstone Group LP’s ( BX ) Laurence Tosi as chief financial officer of the home-sharing startup, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The position was vacant since Andrew Swain left Airbnb last September. Tosi’s appointment, however, would better position the company to go public.

“L.Taboo.’s (Laurence Tosi’s) knowledge of tourist and funds will be the excellent blend to assist require Airbnb to another stage”, Airbnb President Brian Chesky said within the declaration.

Tosi’s resignation is effective August. 7, Blackstone said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

Tosi linked up with Blackstone in 2008, per year following the confidential justice stiff has gone community. Before that, he was chief operating officer of global markets and investment banking at Merrill Lynch & Co.