Spotify's Daniel Ek Steps Down as CEO, Two Successors Named
Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek, who founded the company in 2006, will step down from his role on January 1, 2026. He will be succeeded by two co-CEOs: Gustav Söderström, currently Chief Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, currently Chief Business Officer. Ek will remain with Spotify as chairman of the board.
Ek has already begun delegating daily management to his successors. Söderström and Norström have been instrumental in shaping Spotify and are ready to lead the next phase. Ek's future role will involve overseeing capital allocation, long-term strategic planning, and providing guidance to the new co-CEOs.
Ek, who has been at the helm since Spotify's inception, has also made investments in various companies, including Helsing and Neko Health, and has expressed interest in buying FC Arsenal.
With Ek's departure as CEO, Spotify enters a new era. Söderström and Norström, both long-serving executives, will take operational leadership. Ek, in his new role, will continue to guide the company, ensuring a smooth transition and a promising future for the world's leading music streaming service.
