LONDON (AP) — Spotify said Tuesday that founder Daniel Ek is stepping down as CEO to become the executive chairman, in an announcement that sent its shares sliding in premarket trading. The Stockholm-based streaming giant said Ek will be replaced by two lieutenants who will become co-CEOs: Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström. The pair, who are also currently copresidents, will transition into their new jobs on Jan. 1 and will report to Ek. Spoti ...

Core Insights - Spotify announced a management transition, appointing Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström as Co-CEOs, succeeding founder Daniel Ek, who will become Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2026 [1][2] Recent Earnings - Spotify's stock declined following a surprise second-quarter loss and weak guidance, leading analysts to lower price forecasts despite strong user growth [3] - The company added 8 million premium subscribers and 18 million monthly active users, but missed revenue expectations due to foreign exchange impacts and higher social charges [3] Analyst Perspectives - KeyBanc's Justin Patterson noted double-digit subscriber and MAU growth but highlighted ad softness and foreign exchange headwinds, while still considering Spotify attractive heading into 2026 [4] - Benchmark's Mark Zgutowicz cited weak ARPU guidance and soft ad performance as reasons for trimming estimates, cutting his target from $840 to $800, but pointed to long-term upside from pricing power and podcast margin expansion [4] - Bank of America Securities analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich expressed a bullish outlook, stating that strong engagement and multiple monetization levers outweigh near-term ad challenges, viewing the stock pullback as a buying opportunity [5] Stock Performance - Spotify shares were down 2.54% at $710.00 during premarket trading, trading within a 52-week range of $362.31 to $785.00 [6]

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Core Viewpoint - Spotify Technology S.A. announced a leadership transition, with Founder and CEO Daniel Ek moving to the role of Executive Chairman, effective January 1, 2026, while Gustav Sderstrm and Alex Norstrm will become co-CEOs [1][2][3] Leadership Changes - Daniel Ek will transition to Executive Chairman, reflecting a European chairman setup, focusing on capital allocation and long-term strategy [3] - Gustav Sderstrm and Alex Norstrm, both with over 15 years at Spotify, will take on the co-CEO roles, reporting to Ek and serving on the Board of Directors pending shareholder approval [2][4] Company Performance - Following the announcement, Spotify shares fell approximately 4 percent in pre-market trading, reaching $700.00 [1][4]

In Brief Music streaming giant Spotify said on Tuesday that its founder, Daniel Ek, is stepping down as CEO and will become the company’s executive chairman by the year’s end.The company is replacing Ek with two co-CEOs chosen in house: Gustav Söderström, co-president, and chief product and technology officer; and Alex Norström, co-president and chief business officer. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav ...

Music streaming giant Spotify said on Tuesday that its founder, Daniel Ek, is stepping down as CEO and will become the company’s executive chairman by the year’s end. The company is replacing Ek with two co-CEOs chosen in house: Gustav Söderström, co-president, and chief product and technology officer; and Alex Norström, co-president and chief business officer. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav–who h ...

Core Viewpoint - The UK's competition regulator has initiated an investigation into the merger between Norway's Subsea 7 and Italy's Saipem due to potential competition concerns in the energy services sector [1] Company Summary - Subsea 7, a Norwegian company, is involved in the energy services sector and is currently under scrutiny for its proposed merger with Saipem [1] - Saipem, an Italian company, is also part of the merger being investigated for its implications on competition within the energy services industry [1] Industry Summary - The investigation highlights potential competition issues that may arise from the merger in the energy services sector, indicating regulatory concerns about market consolidation [1]

Spotify (SPOT) founder and CEO Daniel Ek will step down from his role at the helm of the streaming giant and transition to executive chairman effective January 1, 2026, the company announced early Tuesday. Shares dropped in the immediate aftermath of the news, falling as much as 5% in premarket trading. In his new position, Ek will focus on long-term strategy, capital allocation, and founder-led guidance. Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, Chief Business ...

The Spotify founder will transition to executive chairman, with Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström taking over as co-CEOs. ...

Spotify announced on Tuesday that founder Daniel Ek will step down as chief executive officer at the start of 2026, transitioning to the role of executive chairman. The move will mark the end of his f... ...