Wolfe Herd

In short: Whitney Wolfe Herd founded the Bumble dating app in 2014 and is chief executive of Bumble Inc., the Nasdaq-listed parent of Bumble, Badoo and BFF, based in Austin, Texas. She took the company public in 2021. Bumble agreed a $1.3 billion sale to Ithaca Holdings in October 2026, making her future role a point to watch.

Key facts

RoleFounder and Chief Executive Officer
OrganisationBumble Inc.
Based inUnited States
Websiteir.bumble.com/governance/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=b318523a-18dd-4fde-8495-f1211b9f0659
Current roleFounder and Chief Executive Officer of Bumble Inc.; board member since January 2020; resumed CEO role in March 2025 [Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Inc. investor relations, March 2025]
Career history at BumbleCEO January 2020 to January 2024; Executive Chair January 2024 to March 2025 [Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Inc. investor relations, March 2025]
Previous roleCo-founder of Tinder, vice president of marketing from May 2012 to April 2014 (per Bumble investor biography) [Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Inc. investor relations, April 2014]
Founded BumbleFounded Bumble in 2014, one of the first dating apps built with women at the center [Bumble Inc. Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1, January 2025, 17 January 2025]
Return as CEOAnnounced on 17 January 2025 that she would return as CEO from mid-March 2025, succeeding Lidiane Jones, who resigned [Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd to return as CEO (CNBC), 17 January 2025]
Public listingFortune reported that in 2021 she became the youngest woman to take a company public [Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd is stepping down as CEO (F, 7 November 2023]
Ithaca Holdings dealBumble agreed a $1.3B all-cash sale to Ithaca at $6.05 per share; Wolfe Herd recused herself from the board vote; Ithaca co-CEOs Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman to become Bumble co-CEOs on closing; she says she will remain actively involved [Bumble Inc. to Be Acquired by Ithaca Holdings (Bumble Inc.), 13 October 2026]
Post-deal roleRemains Founder and CEO until closing; Bumble's release gives no post-close title; outside date for the merger is 12 July 2027 [Dating Industry Insights, 13 October 2026]
Other board and advisory rolesBoard of Imagine Entertainment; executive board of Southern Methodist University's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences [Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Inc. investor relations, March 2025]
Role in DII coverageQuoted in prepared statements on the December 2024 departures of Bumble's CFO and CMO and the hiring of Neil Shah as chief business officer [Dating Industry Insights, 3 December 2024]

Biography

Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and chief executive officer of Bumble Inc. According to the company's investor relations site, she has been on the board since January 2020 and was CEO from January 2020 to January 2024. She then served as executive chair until March 2025, when she resumed the CEO role after Lidiane Jones resigned. Before Bumble, she was a co-founder of Tinder, where Bumble's biography says she was vice president of marketing from May 2012 to April 2014. She founded the Bumble app in 2014, built around women making the first move.

Bumble Inc. went public on Nasdaq in February 2021, and Fortune reported that she became the youngest woman to take a company public. Blackstone became majority owner in January 2020, according to a biography published by the Basser Center. The company's investor page also lists her board seat at Imagine Entertainment and an executive board role at Southern Methodist University's Dedman College.

On 13 October 2026 Bumble announced an all-cash $1.3 billion sale to Ithaca Holdings at $6.05 a share. Wolfe Herd recused herself from the board vote, and affiliates of Blackstone and Wolfe Herd approved the deal by written consent. On closing, Ithaca co-CEOs Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman are due to become Bumble co-CEOs. Bumble's release says she will remain actively involved but gives no post-closing title. Closing is subject to approvals and an outside date of 12 July 2027.

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Questions about Wolfe Herd

Who is Whitney Wolfe Herd?

She is the founder and chief executive officer of Bumble Inc., the parent company of Bumble, Badoo and BFF. She founded the Bumble app in 2014.

Is Whitney Wolfe Herd still Bumble's CEO?

Yes, as of Bumble's 13 October 2026 release she remains Founder and CEO until the Ithaca Holdings deal closes. The release gives her no post-closing title and says she will remain actively involved.

When did she step down and return as CEO?

She moved from CEO to executive chair in January 2024, with Lidiane Jones succeeding her. She resumed the CEO role in March 2025 after Jones resigned.

What did she do before Bumble?

Bumble's investor biography says she co-founded Tinder and was its vice president of marketing from May 2012 to April 2014.

Who is Wolfe Herd?

Whitney Wolfe Herd founded the Bumble dating app in 2014 and is chief executive of Bumble Inc., the Nasdaq-listed parent of Bumble, Badoo and BFF, based in Austin, Texas. She took the company public in 2021. Bumble agreed a $1.3 billion sale to Ithaca Holdings in October 2026, making her future role a point to watch.

What is Wolfe Herd's current role?

Wolfe Herd is Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Bumble Inc..

Also known as: Whitney Herd, Whitney Wolfe.

Sources

  1. Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Inc. investor relations
  2. Bumble Inc. Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1, January 2025
  3. Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd to return as CEO (CNBC)
  4. Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd is stepping down as CEO (Fortune)
  5. Bumble Inc. to Be Acquired by Ithaca Holdings (Bumble Inc.)
  6. Bumble to install Ithaca founders Gupta and Hegeman as co-CEOs (DII)
  7. Bumble's Executive Shuffle (DII)

Last checked 10 November 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction.