Match Group eliminates COO role as dating app growth slows

Match Group announced on Thursday that it is eliminating the role of chief operating officer (COO), a corporate restructuring that will result in the departure of Hesam Hosseini. Hosseini, who also served as the CEO of Evergreen & Emerging Brands, is leaving the company after 18 years. The decision to eliminate the COO role—the executive responsible for overseeing daily business operations—comes as the dating-app industry faces burned-out users and declining popularity among Gen Z. Hosseini had served as COO since April 1, 2025, under an agreement that paid a base salary of $635,000 and was set to automatically renew on April 1, 2026.

The leadership change follows a mixed financial performance for the first quarter. While Match Group reported an earnings beat—meaning its financial performance exceeded analyst expectations—its forward-looking guidance disappointed investors. The restructuring is part of a broader cost-cutting effort designed to save $100 million annually, which previously saw former Match Group President Gary Swidler leave the company. These changes are occurring under CEO Spencer Rascoff, the former Zillow co-founder who joined the company last year.

The company’s Q1 financial results and future outlook compared to Wall Street estimates include:

• Q1 Revenue: $878 million, compared to estimates of $871 million.
• Q1 Earnings Per Share: 83 cents, compared to estimates of 70 cents.
• Full-Year Revenue Forecast: Expectations of $3.41 billion to $3.54 billion, falling short of the $3.59 billion estimated by Wall Street.

To counter user fatigue and declining engagement, Match Group is planning to roll out more AI products and features for Tinder, its flagship dating app. Additionally, Tinder is planning to host its first-ever product event this month to showcase these upcoming features and outline its future roadmap to investors.

CEO Spencer Rascoff praised Hosseini’s long tenure, thanking him for his leadership and noting that he helped take online dating from the margins to the mainstream. Reflecting on his 18 years at the company, Hosseini stated on LinkedIn that he had “a front row seat to seeing our category grow into the number one way people find meaningful connection.”

Why it matters

Match Group is restructuring its leadership to address a cooling dating app market, attempting to pivot toward AI and new product features to regain investor confidence after a disappointing revenue forecast.