Noel Biderman, Ashley Madison CEO, steps down
CEO leaves company amid data hack that exposed account info
Noel Biderman has stepped down as CEO of the Toronto-based infidelity website AshleyMadison.com and its parent company.
Earlier this month, hackers released details of millions of email addresses, billing information and account details tied to the site. Biderman's own emails were released as part of that breach.
Avid Life Media Inc., the company that owns the site and many others, announced Biderman's move in a short press release on Friday.
"Noel Biderman, in mutual agreement with the company, is stepping down as chief executive officer of Avid Life Media Inc. (ALM) and is no longer with the company," Avid Life said. "Until the appointment of a new CEO, the company will be led by the existing senior management team."
Ashley Madison's existing senior management team will lead the operations until a replacement leader is found, the company said.
Biderman has been with the company since the company launched its public website in January 2002.
The company faces numerous lawsuits in Canada and the U.S. because of the breach.
"We are actively adjusting to the attack on our business and members' privacy by criminals. We will continue to provide access to our unique platforms for our worldwide members," the company said.
"We are actively co-operating with international law enforcement in an effort to bring those responsible for the theft of proprietary member and business information to justice," it added.
Before the data hack, the company was planning an IPO in London that would have raised as much as $200 million US from investors.
According to regulatory filings, the company had $115 million in revenue last year, more than four times the amount it obtained in 2009.