Strava CEO Exits
Michael Horvath, co-founder & CEO, says he will stay on board until Strava finds a new CEO
Strava is on the hunt for a new CEO after Michael Horvath, Strava co-founder & CEO, has announced he’s left the fitness-focused software development company. The social networking app conducted a round of layoffs at the close of 2022, laying off roughly 40 employees.
Horvath announced his departure on Strava’s blog. It’s the second time he’s left Strava, exiting in 2013 until rejoining in 2019.
He founded the company in 2009, alongside Mark Gainey, with the ambition to grow a community of active fitness enthusiasts.
In his open letter to the Strava community, Horvarth wrote that he has great confidence in the brand but stated that part of his job is to ensure the company supports the right leaders “for the right times.”
“What got us here will not be exactly the same as what will get us there,” he wrote. “I have decided that Strava needs a CEO with the experience and skills to help us make the most of this next chapter. The search for Strava’s next CEO is underway and I can’t wait to see how Strava becomes the company and service that motivates the world to move.”
Horvarth confirmed that he is “still at the helm” until Strava completes its search for a new CEO and then will continue to serve as a board member.
The social network has recently garnered criticism for raising its prices for the first time in over a decade, as well as for how it delivered the news.
Strava’s price hike announcement, which stated that the new price depends on their region, whether they are a monthly or yearly subscriber, and whether they purchased their Strava subscription before November 23, 2022, was found to be ambiguous by many. As noted by Runner’s World, Strava users discovered the inconsistencies while discussing the news on the social network’s Reddit community.
There have been some new features unveiled, though. The software company recently added the ability for users to showcase their Zwift rides on Strava video via a partner integration, allowing members to share video highlights directly from Zwift.
In other news, Strava acquired FATMAP, a European company known for its 3D mapping technology. Strava said its users could look forward to a new mapping experience once FATMAP’s 3D mapping technology has been integrated into the platform.
Strava also appointed Anita Patwardhan Butler as its first Chief Design Officer, where she will oversee design and innovation, including brand and marketing design, product design, research, and content design.
