Spark Networks names Colleen Birdnow as interim CEO

Spark Networks announced several key developments in its ongoing transformational journey, signaling a new chapter in the company’s strategic direction. Spark has completed its process to evaluate a wide range of strategic alternatives for the company, including a potential sale, merger, or other transaction. As a result, the company is moving forward with an extensively considered new transformational plan that is intended to drive Spark forward with growth as well as improved margins, EBITDA and cash flow that the company plans to use to pay down debt and support its operations going forward. The company took the first step in implementing this strategy by teaming with a leading performance marketing agency to design an integrated marketing program aimed at driving growth across its brands. Moving forward, the company intends to transfer a significant portion of its operations to one or more third-party managed service providers with the goal of achieving long-term cost reductions, and to invest in new product features intended to increase customer acquisition and retention. Effective July 11, Colleen Birdnow Brown, the current Chair of the company’s Board of Directors, will step in as interim CEO. Brown is the former CEO and Director of Fisher Communications, a multimedia and technology company. She has served in multiple executive roles in media and technology in addition to her board leadership roles over her career. The Board feels Brown is particularly suited to the interim CEO role given her previous operating experience as a CEO, her particular knowledge of the company and her experience in accounting, finance, and risk management. Effective July 7, 2023, Chelsea Grayson left her role as CEO of Spark and as a member of the Board to return to her career as a board member and advisor.