This week, Match Group’s Board of Directors announced its new Chief Executive Officer, Spencer Rascoff, who will take the helm immediately. Rascoff, who has served on the Match Group’s board since March of last year, takes the place of previous CEO Bernard Kim, who is stepping down.

A Pivotal Time for Match Group

The transition comes at a key time for Match Group, a leader in the competitive online dating and relationships industry. About 323 million people worldwide use dating apps in search of romantic connections, and 20 million users pay for premium services. According to Priori Data, 13% of dating app users have become engaged with partners they met on these platforms. While the industry as a whole has lost revenue over the past two years, many of Match Group’s leading platforms (such as Tinder and Hinge) have gained market share, while others (such as PlentyofFish) have shown lasting stability over many years. Match Group’s popular dating apps also include Match, OkCupid, Pairs, and many others.

With a portfolio of over twenty dating apps connecting tens of millions of romantic seekers globally in over 40 languages, Match Group is preparing for the next stage of its growth. Last month, the company’s leadership outlined its vision for the year ahead, sharing its optimism about new products and the integration of more advanced, AI-powered features into the group’s leading apps.

“Leading Match Group has been an incredible experience,” departing CEO Bernard Kim recalls, “and I’m deeply grateful to our teams for their passion, innovation, and dedication to helping people connect.” About the new CEO, Kim adds, “I’ve known Spencer for a long time and have no doubt that he’ll bring great energy and vision to Match Group. I’m excited to see all that Spencer and the team will accomplish in the years ahead.”

A Seasoned Entrepreneur

Newly appointed CEO Spencer Rascoff brings with him not only experience on Match Group’s board but also an established and lengthy track record of building and scaling businesses in the consumer tech sector. He began his career as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and worked in private equity at TPG Capital. In the years that followed, Rascoff founded and led the operations of multiple successful startups. He led Zillow Group as its co-founder and CEO for over a decade, overseeing expansion in its offerings and swift growth in its market value. During his tenure, Zillow Group grew to over 4,500 employees with $3 billion in revenue and a $10 billion market capitalization. During that time, Zillow Group also secured dozens of “Best Place to Work” awards.

In addition to Zillow, Rascoff co-founded the online travel marketplace Hotwire and the proptech firm Pacaso, which set out to change the approach to second-home ownership. He has also served as an advisor to many growing tech companies in e-commerce, media, and artificial intelligence and on many public and private boards (such as Palantir, TripAdvisor, and Zulily).

In Match Group’s press release announcing the appointment, Chairman Tom McInerney called Spencer Rascoff “an exceptional leader with deep experience” and “a strong strategic perspective and deep understanding of Match Group’s brands and opportunities.”

Rascoff also shared his enthusiasm for the appointment. “I am honored,” he said, “to step into the CEO role at such a pivotal and dynamic time for Match Group. This is a company built on innovation, and its portfolio of iconic brands continues to redefine how people connect.” 
He added, “Match Group has set the standard for innovation in dating and relationships, and I’m excited to build on that momentum to bring new experiences to tens of millions of users worldwide…ensuring we continue to shape the future of dating and relationships.”