Match Group Names Bernard Kim As New Chief Executive Officer

Match Group’s Board of Directors has announced that after 16 years in various roles across the organisation, Shar Dubey will be resigning as an officer of Match Group, and Bernard Kim, the current President of Zynga, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective May 31.

Kim will assume day-to-day responsibilities for the organisation and will be joining Match Group’s Board of Directors. Dubey will continue to serve as a Director on Match Group’s Board, and will serve as an advisor to the company, allowing her to focus on product strategy while playing an integral role in the transition. 

Kim has served as President of Zynga from 2016, overseeing various functions including global marketing, user acquisition, revenue, consumer insights, data science, product management, mergers and acquisitions, and communications. Kim was instrumental in Zynga’s explosive growth and was pivotal in the company’s expansion to new markets such as blockchain and hyper-casual gaming, as well as new platforms like the Nintendo Switch, Snapchat, and smart home devices. This led to Zynga’s record annual performance in 2021. Between 2016 and 2022, Kim helped quadruple Zynga’s market cap, leading to its pending $12.7 billion acquisition by Take-Two, which was announced in January 2022. Prior to joining Zynga, Bernard spent nearly 10 years at Electronic Arts Inc. as the company’s Senior Vice President of Mobile Publishing. 

“Creative, dynamic executives that are able to lead an organisation and promote a culture that produces innovative products, embraces new technologies, and attracts and retains the very best people are hard to find. We had it with Shar and it became apparent to us that Bernard’s clear track record of success demonstrates the same unwavering commitment to people, products, and shareholder value,” said Tom McInerney, Chairman of Match Group. “The Board is very grateful to Shar for her 16 years of outstanding service and accomplishments, and is at the same time fully energized by Bernard joining our very talented Match Group team and looks forward to continued future success.”

“I’m honoured to join Match Group’s talented team at such a pivotal time, as the company continues to see powerful momentum, strong user engagement, and passionate employees who are driven to bring joy to millions of users from all walks of life,” said Bernard Kim. “I have tremendous admiration for Shar Dubey’s leadership and for Match Group’s powerful mission to create meaningful connections for every single person worldwide today and in the future.” 

Shar Dubey said: “I feel privileged that I am able to step down from a day-to-day operating role and have the time and headspace to focus on what is hopefully the ‘give back’ chapter of my life. As a Director and an advisor, I will have the flexibility to stay close to aspects of the business I love – product and strategy. I leave the company in great hands. With Bernard’s energy, fresh thinking, and extensive mobile technology and consumer business experience, combined with the over 70 years of institutional knowledge and category experience of our brand CEOs and leaders at Match Group, I am ever so excited about this next phase of the company and the category.”