The Architect and The Visionary: Ek’s New Dynamic at Spotify

Spotify is establishing a new leadership dynamic, with founder Daniel Ek, the visionary, stepping into the executive chairman role, while his key architects, Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, take over the operational blueprint as co-CEOs. The change marks a significant maturation for the nearly two-decade-old company.
Effective January 1st, the day-to-day running of the streaming giant will be jointly managed by Söderström (chief product and technology officer) and Norström (chief business officer). As current co-presidents, they have already been deeply involved in steering the company, and this move formalizes their authority.
Ek and the company have both emphasized that this is an evolution, not a revolution. The leadership responsibilities of Söderström and Norström have been growing since 2023, and this promotion simply aligns their titles with their contributions and duties within the organization.
From his new position, Ek will be able to dedicate his full attention to the long-term health and direction of Spotify. He defined his role as an active one, focused on pushing for innovation in AI, exploring untapped markets, and acting as a key representative for the company on the global stage.
This separation of duties allows Spotify to benefit from both dedicated operational management and high-level strategic foresight. It’s a structure designed to maintain momentum while actively planning for the next wave of disruption in the audio industry.