Daniel Ek, the founder of Spotify, will transition from CEO to Executive Chairman. The music streaming giant will now be led by two co-CEOs, marking a significant leadership change for the industry leader.
Sep 30, 2025
Source:
North Country Public Radio / Getty Images
Spotify Announces Major Leadership Shift
Daniel Ek, the co-founder and long-time CEO of Spotify, is stepping down from his role. The company announced he will transition to the position of Executive Chairman.
Spotify will adopt a new leadership structure, appointing two co-CEOs to lead the company's next phase of growth. The names of the new executives have not yet been disclosed.
Ek's Continued Influence
As Executive Chairman, Ek will continue to guide Spotify's long-term vision and strategy. This move is common for visionary founders in the tech industry, allowing them to focus on broader goals while a new leadership team handles operational execution. Ek co-founded the service in 2006 to create a legal and user-friendly alternative to music piracy.
A New Co-CEO Structure
The shift to a dual-CEO model suggests a strategic pivot for the streaming giant. This structure is often used to combine complementary leadership skills, such as splitting focus between product innovation and business operations. The move signals a new chapter for Spotify as it navigates an evolving digital media landscape.
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Source:
Billboard
Ek’s Legacy and Spotify’s Dominance
Under Daniel Ek's leadership, Spotify grew from a Swedish startup into a global music powerhouse. His vision has fundamentally reshaped the music industry over the past two decades.
From Startup to Global Leader
Launched in 2008, Spotify addressed the challenge of music piracy by offering a vast, accessible library for a monthly fee. This model proved successful, making Ek one of the most influential figures in modern music, a title recognized by Billboard in 2017.
Key Milestones Under Ek
Ek's tenure as CEO is marked by several significant achievements that cemented Spotify's market leadership:
Global Expansion: Successfully launching the service in hundreds of markets worldwide.
Subscriber Growth: Growing the user base to hundreds of millions, with over 180 million paying subscribers reported in recent years.
Public Listing: Leading the company through a successful direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2018.
Diversification: Expanding beyond music into podcasts and other forms of audio content, becoming a key player in the creator economy.
His efforts have also led to a significant personal fortune, with his net worth estimated at $9.2 billion as of May 2025.
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Source:
The Wall Street Journal
