Chris Hyams, CEO of Indeed, has stepped down after nearly 15 years at the helm of the Texas-based job search platform. Hisayuki “Deko” Idekoba has returned as CEO, effective June 2, 2025. Hyams will serve as a board advisor through the end of 2025. Known for his people-focused approach, Hyams famously asked more than 3,000 job candidates a unique question to understand their thinking style and decision-making process.
Chris Hyams, the long-serving CEO of Indeed, a leading Texas-based job search platform headquartered in Austin, USA, has stepped down after nearly 15 years of leadership. Hisayuki “Deko” Idekoba, who previously served as CEO from 2013 to 2019, has rejoined the company to take over the position as of June 2, 2025.
Hyams announced his departure via a heartfelt LinkedIn post, stating that helping people find employment was the “most meaningful work” of his life. While stepping down from day-to-day operations, he will continue to serve as a board advisor until the end of 2025 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
During his tenure, Hyams was known not only for leading Indeed through periods of massive growth but also for his unique and thoughtful approach to hiring. He revealed that he had asked more than 3,000 job candidates the same question over the years:
“Do you use iPhone or Android, and why?”
The intent behind the question wasn’t to gauge tech preference but to understand how candidates think, make decisions, and express their personal reasoning. Hyams often followed up by asking what they would change about the platform, revealing deeper layers of personality, problem-solving, and logic.
“You can actually have a really interesting set of conversations around how important it is when you choose a product, that you can get stuck with that thing for a very, very long time,” Hyams previously told Fortune.
His departure triggered a wave of support and reflection on LinkedIn. One HR professional wrote, “You’ve truly elevated the hiring experience for both candidates and recruiters alike.” Another called his exit “a bad sign for the future of Indeed,” showing how deeply his leadership was felt across the industry.
Indeed, founded in 2004, is one of the world’s largest job search platforms, offering services in over 60 countries and 28 languages. The company is part of Recruit Holdings, based in Japan.
Hyams joins a list of industry leaders known for using unique interview questions to evaluate candidates’ thinking. Examples include Wisp CEO Monica Cepak asking about problem-solving experiences and StockX CEO Scott Cutler using brain teasers under pressure.
With Idekoba at the helm once again, Indeed looks forward to a new chapter while honoring the legacy of a CEO who helped millions find meaningful employment.
