Daniel Ek Announces Spotify Leadership Shake-up, Steps Down as CEO

Daniel Ek, founder of streaming giant Spotify, will step aside from the role of CEO after two decades of leading the company. He will take on the position of Executive Chairman while Gustav Söderström, Co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, Co-President and Chief Business Officer, will be elevated to Co-CEOs.

Spotify leadership:

• Söderström and Norström will also join Spotify’s board of directors once approved by shareholders.

• In his new role that begins January 1, 2026, Ek will still have a hand in capital allocation, long-term strategy, and support for the upper-level employees.

• According to a press release, this move “formalizes how Spotify has successfully operated since 2023 with the co-presidents largely leading strategic development and operational execution of Spotify.”

What they said:

• Ek: “I always believed that Spotify could play an important role in revolutionizing listening around the world, and with more than 700 million users, we’ve truly charted a new course, bringing creativity to every corner of the globe. Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav – who have shaped the company from our earliest days and are now more than ready to guide our next phase.”

• Söderström and Norström: “We’ve worked together for a very long time and have seen Spotify through many different chapters. Nearly three years ago, when we stepped into our roles as Co-Presidents, we charged our teams with relentlessly focusing on building the best and most valuable experience available anywhere, and that ambition hasn’t changed.”