Spotify is establishing a new leadership paradigm that clearly defines the roles of the visionary and the executors. Founder Daniel Ek is transitioning from CEO to the visionary role of executive chairman, while Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström will become the executors as co-CEOs.
This new paradigm will be implemented on January 1st. It empowers Söderström and Norström, the current co-presidents, to execute on the company’s strategy and manage its day-to-day operations, a role they have been effectively performing since 2023.
The company has described this as a formalization of an existing and successful division of labor. Ek confirmed that he had already entrusted the execution of the company’s plans to the duo, and this change simply aligns their titles with their function.
In his new role as the chief visionary, Ek will focus on the “long arc” of Spotify’s future. He will be an active chairman, responsible for generating the long-term vision for the company, including its strategy for AI and its expansion into new global markets.
This new leadership paradigm is a strategic move to optimize Spotify’s effectiveness. It allows the company to benefit from focused and expert execution at the operational level, guided by the long-term, innovative vision of its founder.