Stockholm and New York — 30 September, 2025. In a significant leadership transition, Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) has announced that its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Ek, will transition to the position of Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2026. This move marks a pivotal moment for the company as it continues to innovate and lead in the audio streaming industry.
In conjunction with Ek's transition, Spotify has appointed Gustav Söderström, co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, co-President and Chief Business Officer, as the company's new co-Chief Executive Officers. Both Söderström and Norström will report directly to Ek and are expected to serve on Spotify’s Board of Directors, pending shareholder approval.
This evolution in leadership structure formalizes the management dynamics that have been in place since 2023, where the co-presidents have effectively led the company’s strategic development and operational execution.
As Executive Chairman, Daniel Ek will adopt a role similar to that of a European Chairman, focusing on long-term strategic planning, capital allocation, and providing mentorship to the senior leadership team. “I have always believed that Spotify could play a crucial role in revolutionizing listening worldwide,” Ek stated. “With over 700 million users, we have charted a new course in bringing creativity to every corner of the globe.”
Ek further emphasized that this leadership change aligns with the company's operational reality, noting, “This change simply matches titles to how we already operate. In my new role, I will concentrate on the long arc of the company while keeping the Board and our co-CEOs closely connected through my engagement.”
Woody Marshall, Lead Independent Director of Spotify’s Board, expressed strong confidence in the capabilities of the new co-CEOs: “The Board has been collaborating with Daniel on evolving Spotify’s leadership structure for several years. We have tremendous confidence in Alex and Gustav as they step into these roles. Each has over fifteen years with the company and has been pivotal in our success.”
Marshall added, “We are excited that Daniel will remain actively involved, providing both strategic stewardship and mentorship as Spotify continues to innovate and scale.”
In a joint statement, Söderström and Norström remarked, “Having worked together for a long time, we have witnessed Spotify navigate through many chapters. Nearly three years ago, we became co-Presidents and committed to building the best and most valuable experience for our users, and that ambition remains unchanged.”
They acknowledged their different experiences and perspectives, stating, “While we bring unique insights to the CEO role, our shared bias toward action will drive us forward, especially with Daniel’s continued partnership and support.”
These leadership changes will take effect on January 1, 2026. To discuss this transition, Spotify will host a live question and answer session on Tuesday, September 30th at 8:30 AM EST. Interested parties can access the live webcast at investors.spotify.com.
Since its launch in 2008, Spotify has revolutionized music listening. Today, our platform allows users to discover, manage, and enjoy over 100 million tracks, nearly 7 million podcast titles, and 350,000 audiobooks. As the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, Spotify boasts more than 696 million users, including 276 million subscribers across 184 markets.
