Match Group COO out, as dating apps struggle to connect with Gen Z

Tinder-owner Match Group announced on Thursday that it will eliminate the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), which means Hesam Hosseini will be out of a job after 18 years with the dating app giant. The move comes as the dating-app industry is facing burned-out users and losing popularity among Gen Z. Hosseini had been in the COO role since April 1, 2025, after a promotion, and continued to hold his prior role of CEO of Evergreen & Emerging Brands. His elevation at Match Group followed a shakeup in internal leadership, which also saw Match Group President Gary Swidler leave the company amid other layoffs designed to save the company $100 million annually. These changes, including Hosseini’s departure, are taking place under Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff, the former Zillow co-founder who joined Match Group in February of last year. No other leadership departures or layoffs were announced today.

Hesam Hosseini In his LinkedIn announcement, Hosseini celebrated his time at Match Group, saying he’s had “a front row seat to seeing our category grow into the number one way people find meaningful connection,” and that he’s confident in the future direction. Reached for comment, Match pointed to Rascoff’s comment on Hosseini’s public post. “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 planned exit notes that Rascoff has been engaged in the company’s operations for some time, and the two executives had previously discussed whether or not the COO role was even needed for this chapter of the company. Per Hosseini’s employment agreement, he was paid a base salary of $635,000 with a discretionary cash bonus and other benefits. The one-year agreement was set to be automatically renewed on April 1, 2026, unless terminated prior to that date, indicating the plan was to reassess the need for the role after a year’s time. At the deadline, Hosseini made the decision to leave. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelyOffer ends March 13. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW The move comes after the dating app maker reported an earnings beat in the first quarter, with revenue of $878 million and earnings per share of 83 cents, above estimates of $871 million and earnings per share of 70 cents. However, the company’s forecast for the year ahead fell short of estimates, with expectations of $3.41 billion to $3.54 billion in revenue, when Wall Street was estimating $3.59 billion. The company said it was also planning to roll out more AI products and features for its flagship app Tinder. Tinder is planning to host its first-ever product event this month to show off new features and dive into its future roadmaps. The event is meant to reassure investors that the company has a plan to address the revamped dating app landscape, which sees many users opting out of dating apps altogether in favor of real-world experiences. Updated after publication with Rascoff’s statement. Topics Apps, Apps, dating apps, Exclusive, Match, Match Group, Social, Tinder Sarah Perez Consumer News Editor Sarah has worked as a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011. She joined the company after having previously spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Prior to her work as a reporter, Sarah worked in I.T. across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software. You can contact or verify outreach from Sarah by emailing sarahp@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at sarahperez.01 on Signal.

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