FORTUNE – South Korea's marriages fell by 40% over the last decade, with only 222,400 marriages recorded in 2024, down from 322,807 in 2013. Fertility rates also dropped to 0.75 children per woman. Match Group sees this demographic crisis as an opportunity, launching a Korea-specific version of its Pairs app focused on serious relationships. In Japan, Pairs already accounts for an estimated 10% of marriages. Despite a 6% decline in Asia revenue to $284M in 2024, Match reports a 9% increase in paying users in the region, reaching one million. Beyond South Korea, Match is targeting India next, where acceptance of love marriages is growing rapidly.
Category: Match Group
Match Group Appoints Former Twitter General Counsel Sean Edgett as Chief Legal Officer
BLOOMBERG LAW – Match Group appointed former Twitter general counsel Sean Edgett as chief legal officer, awarding him $6.1M in total compensation, primarily in stock. He succeeds Jared Sine, now chief legal and strategy officer at GoDaddy. Match also disclosed leadership changes, including the exit of interim legal head Jeanette Teckman and president Gary Swidler. Bumble, meanwhile, named its third top legal executive in a year.
What You Need to Know Ahead of Match Group’s Earnings Release
BARCHART – Match Group will report Q1 2025 earnings on May 8, with revenue expected between $3.4B and $3.5B for the full year, indicating growth of -3% to +1% YOY. Last quarter, revenue hit $860M, slightly above forecasts but down from the previous year. Despite that beat, net income dropped 27.2%, and Tinder earnings declined. The company expects flat adjusted operating income for 2025. Shares are down 7% over the past year, and analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” rating with a 21.6% upside target.
Match Group CTO Will Wu Is Stepping Down
BLOOMBERG – Match Group's chief technology and product officer Will Wu said he's leaving his role at the end of May, adding to a slew of executive changes at the dating app company. Wu announced his departure in a post on his Linkedin, saying he'll advise the leadership team through the transition. Match Group didn’t immediately name his replacement.
Investigating the Systemic Failures Enabling Abuse on Dating Apps
GIJN – An investigation by journalists Emily Dugdale and Hanisha Harjani uncovered systemic failures in how Match Group handles user safety. Despite knowing since at least 2016 about users accused of sexual assault, the company often failed to act effectively, allowing some offenders to return to the platforms. Tools like user reporting, AI scans, and a central incident database exist, but enforcement was inconsistent, and banned users could easily rejoin with minor changes.
Match Group Adds New Director Amid Activist Clash
REUTERS – Match Group has appointed Darrell Cavens, co-founder of Zulily, to its board amid rising tensions with activist investor Anson Funds, which recently nominated three directors of its own. Match says Cavens brings digital commerce and tech innovation expertise, aligning with its strategy for board refreshment. Anson, pushing for cost cuts and a review of Match’s Asia business, criticized the move as reinforcing insider ties, noting CEO Spencer Rascoff previously served on Zulily’s board. Match, whose valuation has dropped from $40B to $7.2B, does not support Anson’s nominees.
Match Group Clashes With Activist Investor Over Board Shake-Up
BLOOMBERG – Match Group is facing pressure from activist investor Anson Funds, which criticized the board as outdated and resistant to change, citing frequent CEO turnover and poor execution. Anson is nominating three new directors with strong tech and media experience to push for a strategic overhaul. Match responded by rejecting the claims as inaccurate and defended its board's expertise, saying it's already reviewing nominees and committed to long-term growth. The clash highlights ongoing investor frustration after years of declining market value, with Tinder not expected to return to revenue growth until 2027.
Match Group Quietly Acquired Salams, Backlash Grows
TURKIYE TODAY – Match Group quietly acquired Muslim matchmaking app Salams in late 2023, with the deal only revealed in a February 2025 earnings report. The move sparked backlash from users who said they were not informed. Criticism intensified after Match appointed Spencer Rascoff as CEO – the same day the acquisition was disclosed. Rascoff’s past board role at surveillance firm Palantir and public support for the Israeli military have raised concerns among Muslim users. Some communities are now boycotting Salams and urging users to switch to other platforms.
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Top Dating Apps by Press Coverage in 2024
OPW – In 2024, we selected and summarized close to 700 of the top news items from the online dating industry. These 10 companies made the most headlines in 2024, driven by leadership changes, product launches, lawsuits, and bold strategic moves:
- Match Group – Topped coverage as Elliott bought a $1B stake, partnered with OpenAI, launched a buyback, and reshuffled leadership.
- Tinder – Named Faye Iosotaluno as CEO, expanded ID verification globally and launched a celeb-only dating app
- Bumble – Cut 350 jobs, launched AI scam detection, bought Geneva, and rethought "women make the first move."
- Hinge – Rolled out chat limits, Hidden Words, and launched a $1M fund to drive in-person Gen Z connections.
- Grindr – Marked 15 years, expanded into long-term dating, saw 85% stock growth, and faced HIV data lawsuits.
- Archer – Surpassed 1M downloads, added selfie verification and AI moderation.
- Feeld – Nearly doubled revenue to £39.5M, rebranded, and launched a magazine on non-traditional relationships.
- Matrimony – Launched MeraLuv and WeddingLoan.com, but faced a major setback as Google removed its apps.
- Muzz – Reached 10M users, debuted Muzz Social, launched matchmaking in Pakistan, and introduced chat limits.
- OkCupid – Turned 20 years old.
Match Group and Bumble Have New CEOs and a Renewed Safety Focus
BUSINESS INSIDER – Match Group and Bumble have both appointed new CEOs amid leadership shake-ups and struggles with user engagement. Whitney Wolfe Herd has returned as Bumble CEO, replacing Lidiane Jones, who resigned after a year. Several top executives, including Bumble’s CFO and CMO, have also left. Meanwhile, Match Group has named Spencer Rascoff as CEO, marking its fourth leadership change in six years. Both companies face declining stock prices (Match down 11%, Bumble down 54%) and shifting user behavior, with Match’s paying users falling 5% to 9.5M, while Bumble’s rose 11.5% to 4.1M. As Gen Z and women move away from traditional dating apps, both companies are focusing on safety features, AI-driven tools, and real-world dating initiatives to regain trust and engagement.