Hinge Names Jackie Jantos As New CEO

Hinge has appointed Jackie Jantos as its new Chief Executive Officer in a leadership transition, one that coincides with founder Justin McLeod’s departure to lead a separate AI-focused dating venture. The change, confirmed by Match Group, parent company of Hinge, positions the company for its next growth phase while signalling a broader strategic bet on artificial intelligence within the dating category.

Jantos, previously Hinge’s President and Chief Marketing Officer, has stepped into the CEO role immediately following McLeod’s exit. She has been with Hinge since 2021 and brings a background in building consumer brands and driving strategic expansion. As CMO and president, she led campaigns such as the globally recognised “Designed to Be Deleted” positioning and helped grow Hinge’s presence among younger users, including its expansion into European and Latin American markets.

In her first official statement as CEO, Jantos emphasised continuity of Hinge’s focus on meaningful, in-person connections. “Hinge is designed to help people across all backgrounds forge meaningful connections,” she said, underlining her intention to maintain the app’s mission while building on its current momentum.

The leadership change comes as McLeod shifts his attention to Overtone, an AI-driven dating service incubated within Hinge throughout 2025. Match Group will back Overtone with pre-seed funding and plans to lead an initial external funding round in early 2026, retaining a significant ownership position in the new entity. McLeod will serve as chairman of Overtone and remain an advisor to Hinge through March to ensure a smooth transition.

In addition to Jantos’s promotion, Hinge elevated Tamika Young to Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. Young, who joined the company in 2023 from Netflix, will oversee how Hinge’s mission and values are communicated externally, helping the brand maintain its identity as the app for intentional dating.