We’re really pleased to announce that Ben Ling is joining Badoo as Chief Operating Officer, based out of our London office. Ben starts in May, and joins us from Google’s HQ in Mountain View, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise as we grow Badoo into a truly global brand. We’re hoping he might bring a bit of California weather with him too…
As COO, Ben will oversee product, engineering, business operations, partnerships and mergers and acquisitions. No small feat! We have always had ambitious growth plans (147 million users and 60% year-on-year growth is proof of that!), and 2012 is a pivotal year for us, as we move into new markets such as the U.S. and continue to evolve the Badoo site and apps that our users love. So Ben is a crucial hire for us, as we make it our mission to tell the world about Badoo.
It’s safe to say that Ben knows a thing or two about working in a rapidly growing Internet company. Prior to joining Badoo, he was at Google, most recently helping run its search and local business products, and before that, in multiple roles including helping YouTube reach even more viewers as Director of platform and content partnerships.
Ben also previously worked at Facebook, where he oversaw multiple teams working on the Facebook Platform, including Facebook Connect, which has helped Facebook grow across the web.
This is a really exciting time for Badoo as we continue to add new users, conquer new countries (eight million users and counting in the U.S.!) and change the way that people meet and socialize. Ben will play a key role in helping us take Badoo global, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board.
You can read the formal announcement here, but here’s a quote from Ben that sums things up:
“The opportunity at Badoo is an immense one — I’m excited to be joining an incredible team to address the huge untapped opportunity to transform the way people meet and interact on a global scale.”
Welcome Ben!