Spotify today announced that founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek will transition to the role of
Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2026 . In this new “European-style” chairman role, Daniel
will step back from day-to-day operations and focus on long-term strategy, capital allocation and the
future vision of the company . This move formalizes the way Spotify has been operating recently:
Daniel retains an active role on the Board, while strategic leadership is shared at the executive level.


New Co-CEO Leadership
As part of this evolution, Spotify is introducing a new co-CEO structure. Current co-Presidents Gustav
Söderström and Alex Norström will become Co-Chief Executive Officers, reporting to Daniel Ek .
Gustav Söderström, now Chief Product and Technology Officer, will oversee product, technology
strategy and development. Alex Norström, currently Chief Business Officer, will manage the company’s
subscriber, advertising, and content operations. These two leaders each bring over fifteen years of
experience at Spotify and have been instrumental in driving the company’s growth and innovation .
The Board and management team have full confidence in Gustav and Alex as they step into the CEO
role together, ensuring continuity and a shared vision for Spotify’s future.


Daniel Ek’s Focus as Executive Chairman
In his new role as Executive Chairman, Daniel Ek will focus on Spotify’s long-term strategy and vision
. He has described this shift as moving “from a player to a coach” – remaining deeply involved in
guiding the company’s direction without handling daily operational tasks. Spotify has characterized this
arrangement as a European-style chairman role . In practical terms, Daniel will determine capital
allocation and map out the long arc of Spotify’s growth , while continuing to mentor and support the
senior leadership team. This will allow Daniel to leverage his unique insight as founder while ensuring
that the co-CEOs and board remain closely connected through his ongoing engagement.


Celebrating Daniel Ek’s Legacy
Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek addresses an industry conference in 2024. Under Daniel’s leadership,
Spotify has grown into a global leader in music streaming. The company now serves nearly 700 million
monthly users . Since its founding in 2006, Spotify has achieved significant milestones – including its
first annual profit in 2024 – that reflect Daniel’s vision and determination. We honor Daniel’s legacy
and accomplishments as CEO: he transformed Spotify from a startup into a world-leading audio
platform. As he transitions to Executive Chairman, we thank Daniel for his visionary leadership and look
forward to his continued strategic guidance in shaping Spotify’s future.


About the Leadership Transition: These changes – effective January 1, 2026 – mark a new chapter for
Spotify. We remain confident in our leadership team and excited for the next phase of innovation and
growth under this evolved structure .


Sources: Official Spotify announcement and Reuters news report .