Match Group COO steps out as dating app struggles to connect with Gen Z

Tinder owner Match Group announced Thursday that it will eliminate the role of chief operating officer and fire Hesam Hosseini after 18 years at the dating app giant. The move comes as the dating app industry faces jaded users and is losing popularity among Gen Z.

Following his promotion, Hosseini will assume the role of COO effective April 1, 2025, continuing in his previous role as CEO of Evergreen & Emerging Brands. His promotion at Match Group followed an internal leadership change that also led to Match Group Chairman Gary Swidler leaving the company amid layoffs designed to save the company $100 million annually.

These changes, including Hosseini’s departure, are being made under Match Group CEO Spencer Raskoff, a former Zillow co-founder who joined Match Group in February of last year. No other leadership departures or layoffs were announced today.

In a LinkedIn announcement, Hosseini celebrated his time at Match Group and said he was confident about its future direction, saying he had “a front-row seat to seeing our category grow as the best way for people to find meaningful connections.” Asked for comment, Match pointed to Hosseini’s public statements.

A source familiar with Hosseini’s planned exit said Rascoff has been involved in running the company for some time and the two executives had previously discussed whether a COO role was needed for this part of the company.

Under Hosseini’s employment agreement, he received a base salary of $635,000, plus discretionary cash bonuses and other benefits. The one-year contract is set to renew automatically on April 1, 2026, unless terminated before that date, indicating plans to reassess the need for the role after a year.

The move comes after the dating app maker reported first-quarter earnings of $878 million and earnings of 83 cents per share, beating estimates of $871 million and earnings of 70 cents per share. However, the company’s outlook for this year fell short of expectations, with sales expected to be between $3.41 billion and $3.54 billion, compared to Wall Street’s forecast of $3.59 billion. The company also said it plans to launch more AI products and features for its flagship app, Tinder.

Tinder plans to host its first-ever product event this month to showcase new features and take a look at its future roadmap. The event is intended to reassure investors that the company has a plan to address the revamped dating app landscape, where many users have stopped using dating apps altogether in favor of real-life experiences.