Doodle Founders Leave Scheduling Startup, Swiss Publisher Tamedia Plans To Acquire Remaining Stake

The founders of Doodle, which offers an online scheduling service for individuals and businesses, are leaving the Swiss startup they founded in 2008. According to a company blog post, Michael Näf and Paul E. Sevinç will step down during the next couple of months, to be replaced by Michael Brecht as new CEO as of 1st February. He’ll lead the company along with a management team consisting of current Doodle employees.

Co-inciding with a change of guard, Doodle is also announcing that Swiss Publisher Tamedia plans to fully acquire the company “in 2014″, following its original purchase of a minority 49 percent stake in May 2011 that saw German VC firm Creathor Venture sell its share in the company.

At the time, it talked up synergies between the scheduling service and its online directory search.ch, giving Doodle a boost in its domestic market of Switzerland with regards the SME sector. Terms of the minority acquisition were undisclosed, and I wouldn’t expect any more transparency this time around, though we’ll update this post if we hear any different.

Operating out of Zurich, Switzerland, Doodle claims 15 users per-month. The service, which makes it easy for users, groups and businesses to schedule meeting or take appointments, comes in a free basic version as well as various premium offering. Meanwhile, Tamedia says it will invest in Doodle to further fuel its international growth.

Developing story…