ODA welcomes Geoff Cook to its board

17 May 2023 // Written by Ann Austin

Geoff Cook, co-founded The Meet Group and was CEO from 2013 to 2023. Geoff is a serial entrepreneur and has been a thoughtful voice on issues of social safety for more than a decade.

On joining the ODA board, Geoff Cook said:

“I am honored to join the board of the Online Dating Association, the dating industry’s preeminent trade association. I’m thrilled to work alongside Hannah Shimko, fellow directors, and staff to create and promote standards that help dating & social services deliver trust & confidence, while fostering kinder connections, inclusiveness, and inspiring countless happy relationships. For the last 18 years, I’ve built safety into the DNA of innovative dating and live-streaming video services reaching tens of millions of people. I’ve come to appreciate that “best practice” is a bar that must always be raised, and that the best way to raise it is to cultivate a technology & standards-setting ecosystem, while sharing collaboratively and generously with other responsible industry participants. The ODA plays a critical role in shaping exactly this landscape, and for that reason, I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity to contribute.”

Welcoming Geoff to the board, Dr Hannah Shimko, ODA Chief Executive said:

‘We are delighted to welcome Geoff Cook as the inaugural independent board member of the Online Dating Association. His extensive industry experience and knowledge will make him an invaluable addition to our Board. Geoff’s proven track record in the online dating sector, coupled with his commitment to promoting safety and best practices aligns with our mission for the ODA going into the next five years. We are confident his strategic insights and expertise will help the ODA contribute to advancing the dating industry, and his unique experience will support ODA as we explore what comes next for the Association. I very much look forward to working with Geoff’.

About the Online Dating Association:

The Online Dating Association (ODA) is the trade body recognised as the voice of the online dating sector worldwide.
There are over 75 member brands, including Hinge, Match.com, Tinder, MeetMe, Zoosk, and a range of associate members which support positive experiences in online dating.