Match names former CBS Interactive Executive as new Tinder CEO

Match Group Inc. appointed Jim Lanzone as chief executive officer of Tinder, replacing Elie Seidman, who will step down Aug. 3.

Lanzone has served in several roles at CBS Corp., including heading CBS Interactive from 2011 to 2019. Most recently, he was an executive-in-residence at Benchmark Capital. He’ll be jumping in to the new role as Tinder navigates online dating through a global pandemic.

Match CEO Shar Dubey highlighted Lanzone’s experience running global tech organization and proven track record of building subscription offerings. “Tinder still has so much runway ahead, and as we look to integrate video, roll out new features in various regions and accelerate our growth around the world, Jim will be a formidable leader for the company,” she said in a statement Monday.

Lanzone is taking the helm at Tinder “on the heels of another solid quarter,” Match said, “with double-digit year-over-year revenue growth at Tinder despite the global Covid pandemic.” Match reports financial results Aug. 4. When the company reported first-quarter earnings in May, it said it expected revenue growth to slow in the second quarter from the first.

“We have an enormous opportunity to deliver on our mission, bring more people to the product and reimagine the user experience across different markets,” Lanzone said.

Seidman joined Match four years ago as CEO of OkCupid, another dating website in the company’s portfolio. He has lead Tinder since January 2018.