Whitney Wolfe Herd to Step Down as Bumble CEO
Whitney Wolfe Herd is to step down as Bumble Inc’s CEO, effective on January 2nd 2024. Lidiane Jones, who currently serves as CEO of Slack, will take up the leadership role at the dating app.
The decision comes as part of a “leadership succession plan for the Company’s next chapter of growth”, it announced today. Wolfe Herd will move into an Executive Chair role in the new year.
Wolfe Herd was the visionary founder and public face of Bumble, developing the dating app into one of the largest dating platforms in the world.
The incoming CEO Lidiane Jones has significant experience in product and business innovation. Before her role leading Slack (part of the Salesforce portfolio), she worked at Microsoft, Sonos Inc, and Apple.
Bumble shared that Jones “has led teams and brought products to life across productivity, enterprise scalability and machine learning, always with a keen focus on reimagining and elevating the consumer experience”.
“Her background, passion and values make Jones perfectly suited to lead Bumble Inc. forward and accelerate the Company’s vision to embrace AI innovation across its portfolio of applications in pursuit of facilitating human connection safely”, it added.
Wolfe Herd had this to say about the leadership change:
“It’s a monumental moment, one that has taken a great deal of time, consideration and care, for me to pass the baton to a leader and a woman I deeply respect”
“This move to Executive Chair gives me the ability to step forward into a new and exciting role, get back to my founder roots and bring immense passion and focus to this next chapter of growth. As I reflect on the past decade, I am moved by what our team has achieved and by the passionate community we have created.”
“I am also incredibly optimistic about the future. I believe in Bumble Inc.’s significant potential today more than ever before. I’ve thought hard about what type of leader could ultimately step into the CEO role as a successor and help continue taking Bumble to even greater heights, and I am so pleased to have found Lidiane.”
“Lidiane’s expertise and track record in product and technology is exceptional and having her leading the next chapter of Bumble Inc. is a major win for our company, customers and team. Our shared passion, complementary skill sets and long-term vision for what Bumble Inc. can achieve makes this an exciting time for us both.”
“I am confident that we are going to be fantastic partners in Bumble Inc.’s most exciting chapter to date, as we propel the Company’s brand, mission and products, and scale Bumble Inc. to new heights.”
The incoming CEO, Lidiane Jones said:
“I have long admired Bumble’s mission and it is truly a privilege to join Bumble Inc. as CEO and work alongside Whitney and such an amazing global team, and I want to sincerely thank Whitney and the Board for the confidence and trust they have placed in me.”
“I am also grateful to have the support of my colleagues at Slack and Salesforce, and I remain tremendously confident in what they will accomplish together. As a woman who has spent her career in technology, it’s a gift to lean on my experience to lead a company dedicated to women and encouraging equality, integrity and kindness, all deeply personal and inspiring to me.”
“I look forward to bringing my expertise, passion and drive to Bumble Inc. to foster long-term, sustainable growth and create delightful experiences that will expand our global community well into the future.”
Ann Mather, chair of the Bumble Inc board of directors, said:
“Whitney and the Board have been focused on a thoughtful and deliberate succession plan for quite some time. We are pleased to have identified a leader of Lidiane’s caliber with broad and multidisciplinary expertise – ranging from product development, to machine learning, to marketing to customer experience – as Bumble Inc. continues to innovate and invest in its products and technology. We are confident she will be an advocate for our members and the entire Bumble Inc. team as the Company continues to generate durable growth and tap into new markets and brand-specific opportunities to bring people closer together.”
“On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Whitney for her vision and nearly 10 years of leadership. Whitney has been a powerful force in shaping the online dating industry, and she has been relentless in her determination to meaningfully expand Bumble Inc.’s offerings and global community. We are excited to continue working with Whitney as Executive Chair and look forward to all that she will bring to that role.”
