Spotify is entering a new era, as founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek announced that he will step down from his role in January 2026, after nearly two decades at the helm.
Ek, who launched the company in 2006 and grew it into the world’s largest audio streaming platform with over 700 million users, will transition to the position of Executive Chairman.
The streaming giant disclosed the leadership shift on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, confirming that Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, Chief Business Officer, will take over as co-Chief Executive Officers. Both long-time executives — each with over 15 years at Spotify — will also join the company’s Board of Directors, pending shareholder approval.
Ek said the move simply formalizes what has already been happening internally. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over much of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav. This change simply matches titles to how we already operate,” he explained. “As Executive Chairman, I will focus on the long arc of the company.”
Woody Marshall, Lead Independent Director of Spotify’s Board, emphasized the transition had been in the works for years. “We have tremendous confidence in Alex and Gustav. They have been instrumental in driving Spotify’s success and enabling the company to lead our industry,” he said.
In a joint statement, Söderström and Norström stressed that Spotify’s mission remains unchanged: “When we became co-presidents nearly three years ago, we tasked our teams with building the best and most valuable experience anywhere. That ambition hasn’t changed. We are eager to step into this role with Daniel’s full support.”
The shift reflects a leadership structure that has been evolving since 2023, when Söderström and Norström were named co-presidents.
Since then, they have managed most of Spotify’s operations while Ek increasingly focused on long-term initiatives such as capital allocation, governance, and new market expansion.
Spotify’s leadership transition comes as the company continues to push beyond music into podcasts and audiobooks, competing with Apple, Amazon, and YouTube. For investors, the move signals continuity and stability in governance, while still retaining Ek’s founder-driven strategic vision.