Airbnb CMO Jonathan Mildenhall is leaving the company later this month to start a brand consultancy.

Mildenhall - who joined Airbnb from Coca Cola in 2014 -  will reportedly call his consultancy 21st Century Brand.

Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky paid tribute to Mildenhall. "Looking back, I think it's safe to say that Jonathan led us well up the mountaintop."

Mildenhall, who grew up in the north of England, is widely credited with advancing the issue of diversity in advertising.

He recently appointed Wieden & Kennedy as Airbnb's agency of record.