What you must know
- Spotify’s founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO in January 2026 to change into Govt Chairman, staying hands-on with technique and large choices.
- Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström formally step in as co-CEOs, a transfer that formalizes management duties they’ve shared since 2023.
- Spotify says this “European chairman” setup retains Ek actively concerned, in contrast to the distant board roles widespread within the U.S.
Spotify’s management is getting into a brand new period. The corporate introduced that Daniel Ek, Spotify’s founder and CEO, will step apart from the CEO position and change into Govt Chairman beginning January 1, 2026.
In his new capability, Ek plans to stay deeply concerned as an energetic strategist overseeing long-term route, capital allocation, regulatory points, and key choices.
Why now? In accordance with Ek, it’s as a result of the 2 executives already working a lot of the day-to-day are able to take formal management.
Spotify is handing over the CEO reins to Gustav Söderström (previously chief product and expertise officer) and Alex Norström (previously chief enterprise officer). They may change into co-CEOs, reporting to Ek and (pending shareholder approval) becoming a member of Spotify’s board of administrators.
The streaming platform says this isn’t a significant change. It’s merely making official what has already been occurring since about 2023, when Söderström and Norström began main technique and operations.
In its announcement, Spotify calls the brand new setup a ‘European chairman’ mannequin, which means Ek will keep concerned, in contrast to the extra distant position of a typical U.S. board chair.
In a joint assertion, the incoming co-CEOs emphasised their lengthy cooperation at Spotify and their dedication to sustaining momentum.
Controversy within the combine
A layer of controversy shadows the timing. Ek’s involvement through his funding agency Prima Materia within the protection tech firm Helsing (with a €600 million backing) has stirred backlash within the music group.
A number of artists, together with Huge Assault, Deerhoof, and others, have pulled their catalogs from Spotify, citing moral issues about supporting army tech.
Although Spotify and the Board preserve this management realignment was in planning for years, critics recommend that the transfer can also be a response to reputational stress.
Nonetheless, Spotify right this moment is just not a small startup. It operates throughout 184 markets, helps over 700 million customers, and claims management in streaming.
Ek pressured that Spotify’s first full yr of profitability has arrived, and that the enterprise is steady and able to this transition.
