Alon Carmel, Spark Networks’ co-founders and co-chairmen, has resigned his positions with the company. Mr. Carmel has agreed to continue to serve the company, as a consultant, and Joe Shapira, the company’s co-chairman, will become chairman of the company’s board of directors. Carmel has been with the company for 8 years, originally launching JDate, a cash cow of the network of sites which includes American Singles.
After leaving Spark Networks (then MatchNet) in March of 2004, Carmel was asked to come back six months later to help management right the wayward ship after the IPO was pulled. Undoubtedly he received a larger stake in the company, adding to his significant holdings. I’m sure he held their feet to the fire during the negotiations.
Carmel is off exploring “other entrepreneurial and philanthropic interests.”
