From CEO to Strategist-in-Chief: Daniel Ek’s Evolving Role at Spotify

Daniel Ek is evolving his role at Spotify, the company he founded and led as CEO for nearly 20 years. He announced he is stepping down from the chief executive post to take on the more strategic position of executive chair, a move that reshapes the top tier of the streaming giant.
Taking his place will be not one, but two successors: Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, who will become co-CEOs. This promotion for the current co-presidents is a testament to their established leadership, with Söderström driving product innovation and Norström steering business growth. The change takes effect on January 1st.
Spotify explained that this restructuring formalizes the way the company has been operating since 2023. Ek confirmed that he had already transitioned much of the day-to-day management and strategic execution to Söderström and Norström, making this a logical and seamless evolution of their roles.
As executive chairman, Ek will turn his attention to what he describes as Spotify’s “long arc.” He plans to be a hands-on chairman, pushing the company to explore new technologies like AI and to capture growth in emerging markets across the globe. “I’m gonna keep pushing for us to look around the corner,” he promised.
This deliberate leadership change allows Ek to step away from operational demands to become Spotify’s strategist-in-chief. With his vision guiding the future and his trusted deputies managing the present, the audio platform is structured to continue its global dominance.