Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble Inc., has resumed her role as Chief Executive Officer, effective mid-March 2025, following the resignation of Lidiane Jones, who stepped down citing personal reasons. Wolfe Herd’s return comes at a pivotal time as the company undergoes significant restructuring to address declining user engagement and financial challenges.
Jones, who previously served as CEO of Slack Technologies, took over as Bumble’s CEO in January 2024. During her tenure, she implemented several changes, including a controversial modification to Bumble’s signature feature that allowed men to initiate conversations, deviating from the app’s original women-first approach. Additionally, the company launched a marketing campaign promoting celibacy, which faced backlash and was subsequently retracted with an apology. Under Jones’s leadership, Bumble also announced a 30% workforce reduction in February 2024, aiming to streamline operations amid financial pressures.
Despite these efforts, Bumble’s performance continued to decline, with the company’s stock value dropping by nearly 50% during Jones’s tenure. The company faced challenges such as increased competition, inflation, and a lack of major new features, which affected user growth and revenue. In response to these challenges, the board appointed Wolfe Herd to lead the company through its next phase of transformation.
In her statement upon returning as CEO, Wolfe Herd expressed gratitude for Jones’s contributions and emphasized her commitment to Bumble’s mission of fostering meaningful and equitable relationships. She acknowledged the need for innovation and a renewed focus on the company’s core values to navigate the evolving online dating landscape.
As part of the leadership transition, Ann Mather, Bumble’s Lead Director, has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors. Mather praised Jones’s significant contributions and expressed confidence in Wolfe Herd’s ability to drive Bumble’s vision forward.
Bumble anticipates reporting strong fourth-quarter 2024 results, with total revenue and Bumble app revenue expected to exceed the midpoints of previously provided forecasts. The company aims to leverage this momentum to implement strategic initiatives under Wolfe Herd’s leadership, focusing on innovation, user engagement, and long-term growth.
Wolfe Herd’s return marks a critical juncture for Bumble as it seeks to reclaim its position in the competitive online dating market. Her leadership will be instrumental in steering the company through its restructuring efforts and aligning its operations with the evolving needs of its user base.
