The company announced his arrival as the new head of global policy and public affairs in a blog post on Wednesday. His role will focus on directing policymakers and educating stakeholders "about Airbnb and the right to share your home."

Lehane has a long history in politics, and earned the title "master of disaster" for his work on the Clinton administration in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He has also served as the spokesperson for Al Gore's presidential campaign. 

The hire comes as Airbnb faces ongoing backlash from regulators, including those in New York City, who say the app circumvents tax regulation as well as fire and other safety standards that hotels must comply with. 

Lehane formerly worked with Airbnb as an outside consultant, most recently helping the company fight a ballot measure that would impede users' ability to rent out their homes on the app. He is replacing David Hantman, former head of government relations at Yahoo, who had been in the position since 2012.