On 30 September 2025, Ek announced that he would step down as CEO of Spotify at the end of the year, while remaining as executive chairman. In the role, his succeeding co-CEOs will continue to report to him, while he focuses on capital allocation, long-term strategy, and regulatory efforts. Daniel Ek is stepping down as CEO of Spotify, the streaming company he cofounded in 2006, and moving to executive chairman.

Understanding the Context

In his place, Spotify’s current presidents Alex Norström and Gustav... Why Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Is Stepping Down After Nearly Two ... Spotify founder Daniel Ek has formally ended his tenure as CEO of Spotify, the increasingly controversial streaming giant he founded two decades ago. All eyes are on Spotify following CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek’s announcement that he will step down from CEO to executive chairman, effective Jan.

Key Insights

1, 2026. Ek explained to Forbes that he wanted time to focus on other ventures, including his investment holding company Prima Materia. Today, Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) announced that Founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek will transition to the role of Executive Chairman effective . Spotify founder Daniel Ek is planning to officially step down from the role of chief executive after two decades at the helm of the music streaming giant. Daniel Ek, who co-founded Spotify and has been the most visible face of the company as it has grown into the world's biggest music streaming service, has announced that he will step down as the...

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