Tinder’s marquee CEO hire is out after just five months; former CEO returns

There’s a leadership change going on at Tinder. According to Re/code’s Kara Swisher, the dating app company has ousted its chief executive, Chris Payne, making way for the return of cofounder Sean Rad.

Payne took over the helm at Tinder in March 2015 as a means of providing more experienced management. But it doesn’t seem to have worked out. Rad’s prodigal return may feel familiar, as other noted technology firms, including Zynga and Twitter, have welcomed founders back as well.

And while bringing a founder back may be cause for celebration, Rad’s reputation isn’t exactly flawless. Under his leadership, the company became embroiled in a sexual harassment lawsuit, brought against it by former cofounder Whitney Wolfe. Rad stepped down as chief executive in 2014.

Prior to joining Tinder, Payne was already a seasoned tech veteran. His CV includes a long stint at Microsoft, where he ran Windows Search Live. After Microsoft, he founded a software startup called Positronic, and when it was acquired, he joined eBay. There’s no word on what Payne will do following his departure from Tinder.