NOEL Biderman was the CEO of website Ashley Madison's parent company, Avid Life Media.
With the release of the new Netflix documentary about the online dating service's data leak, people want to know more about its previous leader.
Who is Noel Biderman?
Noel Biderman is an internet entrepreneur and business marketing specialist born in 1971 in Toronto, Canada.
He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from York University - Osgoode Hall Law School in 1996, as per his LinkedIn page.
He also studied economics at the University of California and attended York Mills Collegiate.
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He also held leadership roles for companies such as Kings Entertainment Group Inc, Bitbuy, The Flowr Corporation, and Move.
Biderman served as the president and CEO of Avid Life Media from 2010 to 2015.
In 2001, the social networking site Ashley Madison was launched under Avid Life Media.
Self-described as "the first married dating website," the online dating service is aimed at people already married or in relationships.
The site's slogan states: "Life is short. Have an affair."
Its website states, in part: "Every day, people just like you join the Ashley Madison® network to find discreet relationships of all kinds.
"Married, attached, looking to explore, or just curious to discover what’s out there – Ashley Madison is the leading discreet, like-minded dating community in the world."
However, as per Cosmopolitan, Noel Biderman previously denied that the company promotes infidelity.
He reportedly said: "We're just a platform. No website or 30-second ad is going to convince anyone to cheat. People cheat because their lives aren't working for them."
Where is the former Ashley Madison CEO now?
In August 2015, Ashley Madison was hit with a data leak by hackers that compromised the personal information attached to over 30 million accounts, as per The New York Times.
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Following the scandal, Biderman left Avid Life Media.
As the outlet reported, a statement from Avid Life Media at the time said: "This change is in the best interest of the company and allows us to continue to provide support to our members and dedicated employees.
"We are actively adjusting to the attack on our business and members’ privacy by criminals."
Biderman has accumulated a large net worth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his fortune is valued at $40 million.
His wealth is largely attributed to his work with Ashley Madison, as per the outlet.
His LinkedIn profile states that he is now the Strategic Advisor of iGaming at WonderFi and the CEO of Avenue Insights.
Who owns Ashley Madison?
In 2016, Avid Life Media rebranded as ruby, per Business Insider. Ashley Madison is still under ruby, as of 2024.
According to ruby's website, it is "an industry leader in innovative, open-minded dating services.
"Through our revolutionary online dating brands, we help millions of people connect and communicate.
"Driven by high-tech advancements and outside-the-box thinking, our brands have grown to become household names. Modern relationships are complex and multifaceted, and so are we."
On May 15, 2024, Netflix premiered a docuseries on the 2015 Ashley Madison scandal.
The three-part series is called Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal.
Previously, Hulu had also released a documentary entitled The Ashley Madison Affair in 2023.
