The online dating website eHarmony is now being run by Alabama native and Auburn University alum Grant Langston. The move, effective immediately, puts Langston in charge of the company that has been run founder Dr. Neil Clark Warren since its inception. The former CEO will remain with the company as chairman of the board.
“I am pleased that the board has appointed Grant Langston as the new chief executive officer,” Warren said in a statement. “He has been a guiding influence for the company and understands this space better than anyone else in the industry. Additionally, he has an intuitive understanding of the business itself as well as the position of the unique eHarmony brand and I am confident that under his leadership, eHarmony will continue to grow market share and hold its position as an industry leader.”
Langston was born in Gadsden but grew up in Hartselle. After receiving his degree from Auburn, he went on to become one of the founders of eHarmony with Warren. Before becoming CEO, he served as the company’s vice president of brand marketing.
eHarmony – which is used in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Singapore, and Australia – has been in business for 16 years, bringing countless couples together. A recent study has also shown that an average of 438 people get married each year thanks to the site’s services.
To optimize the matching process, eHarmony operates eHarmony Labs, a relationship research facility, and publishes eHarmony Advice, a relationship advice site. eHarmony, which was launched on August 22, 2000, is based in Los Angeles, California.
Online dating has surged in popularity in recent years.
According to Pew Research, “online dating has lost much of its stigma, and a majority of Americans now say online dating is a good way to meet people.
“Today, nearly half of the public knows someone who uses online dating or who has met a spouse or partner via online dating – and attitudes toward online dating have grown progressively more positive.”
Still, only “5% of Americans who are in a marriage or committed relationship say they met their significant other online.”
Mr. Langston will be working hard to increase that number in his new role as eHarmony CEO.
