Founding Partner of Online Buddies, The World’s Largest Company Connecting Men Seeking Men, Announces Retirement;

Co-Founder Jonathan Crutchley Becomes Sole Owner

Online Buddies, parent company of the world’s leading gay dating site, Manhunt.net, announced today that founding partner Larry Basile has retired as President. Mr. Basile co-founded Online Buddies in 2001 with his longtime business partner, Jonathan Crutchley.  Together, the pair created and developed Manhunt, Jack’d, Dandy, and other social products for gay men, becoming the largest company in the world to connect men seeking men.  Their products serve over 17 million members in virtually every country in the world, with 82,000 new profiles added each week and a combined 1 million unique visits daily.   Mr. Crutchley purchased Mr. Basile’s share of the company and will continue to operate the company with his executive team.

“Larry and I enjoyed a long and successful business partnership,” said Jonathan Crutchley at this morning’s announcement.  Their business relationship began in 1992 when Mr. Crutchley joined Mr. Basile on a Boston-based telephone chat line for gay men Basile founded in 1987. “His retirement was not expected, but it wasn’t a surprise either. Larry started out by owning the major share of the business, but over the past 22 years of our partnership, he has sold small increments of the company to me until I owned the majority.  He always intended for this day.”

Mr. Crutchley’s sole ownership of Online Buddies is intended to be temporary. He is currently seeking investors interested in joining him in the enterprise.

As Mr. Basile played a behind-the-scenes role in the company, his departure is not likely to have an impact on the day-to-day operations of Online Buddies.   The company has a solid executive management team that advises and manages the strategic plan for the business, among them Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Hector Camacho.

“The future of online hook-up is expanding its services beyond casual hookups,” he says. “Online Buddies’ goal is to improve the experience and the value of our products and services so that we can deliver on consumers’ strong appetites for innovation and social connection.”

A number of interesting upgrades to Manhunt and Jack’d are in development and scheduled for release soon.  Brand new products are also in the pipeline.

“What we will miss most about Larry is his steadfast vision,” continues Mr. Camacho.  “He saw Manhunt as sexual in nature and he was unapologetic about it. He was the loudest cheerleader for maintaining authenticity while being bold and uninhibited.  We will stay true to Larry’s vision.”

More information about the Online Buddies family of products is available at www.online-buddies.com.