Hinge CEO steps down, to lead AI-powered dating app Overtone — Who is Justin McLeod?

Hinge founder Justin McLeod is leaving his role as CEO at the company to launch an AI-powered dating service platform.

In a statement Tuesday, Hinge parent company Match Group said McLeod will now run Overtone, an AI-powered dating startup backed by the company.

While Match Group signaled a major investment in artificial intelligence, it said that Overtone, incubated within Hinge, will operate as an independent company in 2025.

Match Group plans to lead Overtone’s first funding round in early 2026 and maintain a significant ownership position

“Match Group today announced a leadership transition at Hinge, with Founder and CEO Justin McLeod leaving the company to launch Overtone, a new standalone AI-focused startup backed by Match Group,” the company said in a statement.

Jackie Jantos, who currently serves as Hinge’s president and chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO.

During his four-year tenure as CMO and president, Jantos expanded Hinge into new regions, including Europe and Latin America. It is also credited with introducing new product innovations and strengthening Hinge’s cultural relationship with Gen Z, which now represents the platform’s largest audience worldwide.

“Hinge’s mission to help people find meaningful, in-person relationships has never been more important. I’m honored to lead this next chapter and continue to build on the strong foundation Justin created. Our focus will remain on culture, creativity, and intentional innovation grounded in a deep understanding of how people connect today,” Jantos said in a statement Tuesday.

Who is Justin McLeod?

In 2011, Justin McLeod founded Hinge, a dating app that has become one of the most popular apps in its category in many countries around the world.

Kentucky-born McLeod launched Hinge in 2013 as a service to connect people with friends of friends. The story behind the launch of the app is nothing but a romantic drama.

According to a 2019 article Time MagazineHinge was born out of the heartbreak Justin McLeod experienced while graduating from Harvard University.

McLeod was inspired when he rejected the proposal of his girlfriend, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship for four years.

After graduating from Harvard Business School and rejecting a job offer from consulting firm McKinsey & Company, McLeod began developing a Valentine’s Day matchmaking game for students, which later gave birth to Hinge.

Justin McLeod graduated from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics and political science before earning his MBA from Harvard.

In his new role at Overtone, Justin McLeod will serve as the company’s Chairman of the Board.