A new chapter is beginning at Spotify, with founder Daniel Ek stepping aside as Chief Executive Officer after almost two decades. He will take on the influential role of executive chairman, entrusting the company’s operational leadership to a new co-CEO partnership.
The new co-CEOs, Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, are set to take over on January 1st. Both are internal stalwarts, serving as co-presidents and leading the company’s product and business divisions, respectively. The company stated this move formalizes the leadership role they have effectively held since 2023.
Daniel Ek emphasized that the change is a reflection of the company’s current operational reality. He had already delegated significant day-to-day and strategic responsibilities to Söderström and Norström, and this announcement aligns their titles with their functional duties.
As executive chairman, Ek will not be taking a passive role. He will be an active participant in shaping the company’s long-term destiny, focusing on pioneering new technologies like AI and driving expansion into new global markets where streaming has yet to take hold.
This leadership restructuring marks a pivotal moment in Spotify’s history. It signals a maturation of the company, with a structure designed to empower its operational leaders while retaining the visionary guidance of its founder to navigate the future of audio.