Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek will step aside as CEO of the streaming platform and move up to a new role as executive chairman.

Ek announced his decision in a letter shared with Spotify staff on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The corporate shuffle will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, with Gustav Söderström, co-president and chief product and technology officer, and Alex Norström, co-president and chief business officer, taking over as co-CEO.

Despite the title changes, Ek will maintain a significant leadership role at Spotify, especially in shaping the company’s future. He said he will focus primarily on “strategy, capital allocation, regulatory efforts, and the calls that will shape the next decade for Spotify.”

Ek added that Söderström and Norström will continue to to report to him, and all thre

See Full Page