Spark Networks Announces Departure of Co-Founder, Alon Carmel; Fellow Co-Founder, Joe Shapira, to Serve as Chairman of Board

Spark Networks Announces Departure of Co-Founder, Alon Carmel; Fellow Co-Founder, Joe Shapira, to Serve as Chairman of Board

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Spark Networks plc, a leading provider of online personals services, today announced that Alon Carmel, one of the company's co-founders and co-chairmen, has resigned his positions with the company to pursue other entrepreneurial and philanthropic interests. 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.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050202/LAW091LOGO )

Since launching JDate(R).com, eight years ago, Mr. Carmel helped build the company from a fledgling startup into one of the true leaders in the online personals space. In addition to JDate.com, Spark Networks owns AmericanSingles(R).com and a host of other growing vertical market players in the online personals industry.

Joe Shapira said: "My business partner and closest friend, Alon, has been a visionary and a passionate leader, instrumental in building our successful company. I respect his decision to leave to pursue new opportunities, but life at Spark Networks will be very different without him. I speak on behalf of the entire Spark Networks team when I say that we are grateful for what Alon has helped us build and wish him all the best."

This move is part of what Mr. Carmel has envisioned as a natural progression for himself as an entrepreneurial businessman. Mr. Carmel initially stepped back from a day-to-day operating role at the company in March 2004, but returned in August to help restructure the organization. "At that critical time at the end of last summer, I decided to come back to help David Siminoff and Joe rebuild our wonderful business. Over the past six months, with the hard work and dedication of the best team in the industry, we have accomplished more than anyone could have imagined and I am now able to move on knowing that my company is in terrific hands. During this journey, over the past eight years, I have had the honor of working with some great people, many of whom have become close, personal friends. Although I will miss working with all of them, I remain a significant shareholder, and I fully support the company in its future endeavors and wish it continued success."

About Spark Networks plc:

Spark Networks plc's Global Depositary Shares trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) under the symbol "MHJG". The Spark Networks portfolio of consumer Web sites includes AmericanSingles(R).com, JDate(R).com, JDate.co.il, MatchNet(R).de, MatchNet.co.uk, MatchNet.com.au, Glimpse.com(TM), CollegeLuv(TM).com, Date.ca(TM), and FaceLink(R).com. The company was formed in England in 1998.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050202/LAW091LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Spark Networks plc

CONTACT: Media, Greg Liberman, +1-323-658-3010, gliberman@spark.net, or
Investors, Mark Thompson, +1-323-658-3010, mthompson@spark.net, both of Spark
Networks plc


-------
Profile: intent