Match Group, the owner of Tinder, announced on Thursday that it will be eliminating the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO), leading to the departure of Hesam Hosseini after 18 years at the company. This decision comes as the dating app industry experiences a decline in user engagement and popularity, especially among Gen Z.
Hosseini has been serving as COO since his promotion on April 1, 2025, while retaining his previous role as CEO of Evergreen & Emerging Brands. His promotion filled a gap following internal leadership changes, which also saw the departure of Match Group President Gary Swidler as part of broader layoffs aimed at saving the company $100 million annually.
These leadership changes are happening under the guidance of Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff, a former Zillow co-founder who joined the company in February of last year. No additional leadership departures or layoffs were announced at this time.
In his LinkedIn announcement, Hosseini reflected on his tenure at Match Group, highlighting his satisfaction in witnessing the growth of the dating category. Match Group referred to Rascoff’s response to Hosseini’s public post for comments.
“18 years is an extraordinary run, Hesam. Thank you for your leadership, steady hand and deep belief in this category and company,” Rascoff wrote. “You helped take online dating from the margins to the mainstream and built teams and brands that will have a lasting impact. I’m personally grateful for your partnership.”
A source familiar with Hosseini’s exit noted that Rascoff had been actively involved in the company’s operations and that both executives had previously considered the necessity of the COO role for the company’s future.
According to Hosseini’s employment agreement, he earned a base salary of $635,000 with a discretionary cash bonus and other benefits. The agreement was automatically renewable on April 1, 2026, unless terminated earlier, indicating plans to evaluate the role’s necessity after a year. At the renewal deadline, Hosseini decided to leave.
This move follows Match Group’s recent earnings report, where they surpassed Q1 expectations with $878 million in revenue and earnings per share of 83 cents, against estimates of $871 million and 70 cents, respectively. Despite this, the company’s annual forecast fell short, with revenue expectations between $3.41 billion to $3.54 billion in contrast to Wall Street’s projection of $3.59 billion. The company plans to introduce more AI products and features for Tinder.
Tinder is set to host its inaugural product event this month, showcasing new features and future strategies. This event aims to reassure investors of the company’s plans to address changes in the dating app market, as many users are moving away from digital options in favor of real-world interactions.
Updated after publication with Rascoff’s statement.