CEO Barton To Leave Fast-Growing, Profitable Expedia

Expedia president and CEO Richard Barton late yesterday announced plans to leave the Bellevue, Wash.-based company at the end of next month to travel with his family. An Expedia founder, Barton will be replaced by another longtime executive, president of Expedia North America Erik Blachford. Blachford said his current duties would be sorted out over the next 30 to 60 days. Barton will retain a seat on the board of USA Interactive, Expedia's majority owner.

Expedia also said it earned $21 million in the fourth quarter, more than four times the company's 2001 fourth-quarter earnings. Both gross booking volume and total revenues roughly doubled year over year. Officials also said they "remain confident" about a goal of generating $750 million in 2004 gross booking volume from Expedia's corporate travel business.