Match.com loses head of global marketing

Wed, 23 May 2007

Dating website Match.com has lost chief marketing officer Matthew Welch to Cecure Gaming, the mobile gaming company where he becomes chief marketing officer.

His departure follows last week’s announcement that UK marketing and partnerships manager Sarah Drew is moving to online recruitment site TheLadders.com as managing director.

Welch leaves the online dating service after just a year as global marketing chief. The online dating service is in turmoil and has seen a huge management shake-up.

At Match.com Welch was responsible for the dating sites marketing strategy in 33 countries. Match.com has yet to name a new head of marketing for either the UK or global roles. At Cecure, Welch will report to chief executive officer Peter Karsten and will be responsible for marketing as well as boosting membership and usage. He says: “Cecure Gaming is at the forefront of innovation in the mobile gaming industry, and has great aspirations for further growth and success.”

Match.com has had a management reshuffle with Jason Stockwood appointed UK managing director earlier this year. He joined from Last-minute.com and will oversee a shift in strategy, to include increased adspend and greater emphasis on above-the-line advertising.

Match.com launched in the US in 1995 and bought UK dating website udate.com in 2003. Last month, it appointed Efficient Frontier to manage its UK paid search bid optimisation task.

London-based Cecure Gaming, formerly 3G-Scene, designs and operates licensed and own-brand poker and casino games for mobile.