--- title: "Jonathan Kirkland - Head of Marketing & Brand, BLK | DII" description: "Head of Marketing & Brand, BLK at Match Group. BLK is a Match Group dating app created for Black singles, led brand-side by Jonathan Kirkland." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Kirkland", "jobTitle": "Head of Marketing & Brand, BLK", "description": "BLK is a Match Group dating app created for Black singles, led brand-side by Jonathan Kirkland. It has become the most downloaded dating app for Black users in the US.", "url": "https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/people/jonathan-kirkland", "image": "https://wljexrfnabxcmtcyztnv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/profile-images/253a6c3f-7105-4022-8175-e8f80fef006f.jpg", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanckirkland/" ], "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Match Group", "url": "https://mtch.com" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "People", "item": "https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/people" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Kirkland" } ] } ] --- [![Dating Industry Insights](/assets/dii-logo-footer-B-hNTbau.webp)](/)[A High Intent Media Brand](https://www.highintentmediagroup.com) [About](/about) [Companies](/companies "Dating App Companies") [Products](/directory "Dating Products & Features") [People](/people "Industry People & Executives") [News](/news "Dating Industry News") [Reports](/reports "Market Reports & Data") [Resources](/resources "Industry Resources") Log InRegister Free Trending [Ofcom's Compliance Ultimatum: Dating Platforms Can't Wait for 2027](/news/ofcom-warns-online-safety-measures) | [Surf's Fitness Race Dates: Strategic Innovation or Marketing Stunt?](/news/surf-expands-events-partnership-hyrox-globally) | [Duo's ₩345M Fine: A Warning Shot for Matchmaking's Opaque Promises](/news/matchmaker-duo-fined-over-misleading-ads) | [EliteSingles' Resurrection: Brand Equity vs. Network Effects](/news/elitesingles-relaunches-under-new-ownership) | [Fake Dating Apps Poison User Trust: A Crisis for Startups](/news/fake-dating-app-apk-user-concerns) [Home](/)[People](/people)Jonathan Kirkland ![Jonathan Kirkland](https://wljexrfnabxcmtcyztnv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/profile-images/253a6c3f-7105-4022-8175-e8f80fef006f.jpg) # Jonathan Kirkland Head of Marketing & Brand, BLK [at ![Match Group logo](https://img.logo.dev/mtch.com?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=56&format=png&fallback=monogram)Match Group](/companies/match-group) Overseeing: [![Azar logo](https://img.logo.dev/name/Azar?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=48&format=png&fallback=monogram)Azar ](/products/azar "Azar")[![Fruitz logo](https://img.logo.dev/name/Fruitz?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=48&format=png&fallback=monogram)Fruitz ](/products/fruitz "Fruitz")[![HER logo](https://img.logo.dev/weareher.com?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=48&format=png&fallback=monogram)HER ](/products/her-app "HER")[![HingeX logo](https://img.logo.dev/name/HingeX?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=48&format=png&fallback=monogram)HingeX ](/products/hingex "HingeX")[![Archer logo](https://img.logo.dev/name/Archer?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=48&format=png&fallback=monogram)Archer ](/products/archer-app "Archer")[![BLK logo](https://img.logo.dev/name/BLK?token=pk_K6hdbPRcTQSnsRNEiZ-Ymg&size=48&format=png&fallback=monogram)BLK ](/products/blk "BLK") [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanckirkland/) ## About Jonathan Kirkland Jonathan Kirkland leads brand strategy for BLK, the most downloaded dating app for Black singles in the United States. Since its 2017 launch, BLK has become a cornerstone of Match Group's portfolio of culturally specific dating platforms, operating alongside Chispa to serve diverse communities with tailored experiences. Under Kirkland's brand leadership, the app has distinguished itself in a competitive market by authentically centering the needs and preferences of Black users, transforming how this demographic engages with digital dating. Throughout his tenure as Head of Brand, Kirkland has been instrumental in positioning BLK as more than a dating platform—it has evolved into a cultural touchstone that reflects and celebrates Black identity. His strategic vision has guided the app's messaging, visual identity, and community engagement initiatives, ensuring that every brand touchpoint resonates with authenticity and cultural relevance. This focus on genuine representation has fueled BLK's ascent to market leadership within its target demographic. Kirkland brings a sophisticated understanding of brand development in niche markets where cultural competency is paramount to success. His expertise lies in crafting narratives that balance commercial objectives with meaningful community representation, a skill that proves invaluable within Match Group's diversified portfolio strategy. By demonstrating that culturally specific platforms can achieve both market dominance and authentic user connections, Kirkland has helped establish a blueprint for identity-focused dating products in an increasingly segmented industry. ## Also at Match Group [![](https://wljexrfnabxcmtcyztnv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/profile-images/764f12e2-a50d-4201-9a8a-cfca724a261c.jpg) Amanda Bradford Founder ](/people/amanda-bradford)[![](https://wljexrfnabxcmtcyztnv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/profile-images/05ad3153-f6a4-449b-aa13-fd20577371a2.jpg) Ann McDaniel Board Director ](/people/ann-mcdaniel)[![](https://wljexrfnabxcmtcyztnv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/profile-images/4cccc670-4fdd-4966-a803-393f77c4919a.jpg) Ariel Charytan CEO ](/people/ariel-charytan)[![](https://wljexrfnabxcmtcyztnv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/profile-images/ff04847b-6f5e-432f-9526-40d0500fc0cf.jpg) Bernard Kim Former CEO ](/people/bernard-kim) ## Jonathan Kirkland News Coverage No coverage yet. 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