David Kaefer, Head of Spotify’s Music and Audiobook Businesses, Is Stepping Down

David Kaefer, the Spotify executive in charge of the company’s music and audio businesses, will leave the company at the end of October. The announcement was made on Wednesday (Oct. 1) through both an internal memo and a LinkedIn post by Kaefer.

Named to Billboard‘s 2025 Power Players list, Kaefer spent seven years at Spotify, most recently as global head of music and audiobook business. In that role, he led the company’s music licensing and partnerships and its growing audiobook business that launched in 2022. According to Kaefer’s LinkedIn post, after leaving Spotify, he plans to be an advisor and invest in tech, media and sustainability. 

Charlie Hellman, currently Spotify’s vp/global head of music product, will succeed Kaefer as senior vp and global head of music. Hellman joined Spotify in 2011 and helped build some of the company’s first recommendation and social features. 

Separately, on Tuesday (Sept. 30), Spotify CEO Daniel Ek announced he would step down on Jan. 1, 2026, to be replaced by two co-CEOs: co-president/chief business officer Alex Norström and co-president/chief product and technology officer Gustav Söderström. The pair will report to Ek, who will transition to the role of executive chairman. They are expected to be named to the company’s board of directors.

Below, you can read the internal memo obtained by Billboard that was written by Norström about Kaefer’s departure.

Team,

I would like to take a moment to share some thoughts on the future of our Music team and its leadership.

It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from David Kaefer, particularly in his leadership of key music functions, including Editorial, Partnerships, and GTM, as well as his extensive experience navigating innovative industry deals. On a personal note, I’ve always valued his strategic saviness and unique blend of toughness and humor. From the moment that he shared his plans for a new, ideally West Coast-based adventure a few months ago, I’ve felt a deep sense of gratitude for his incredible run. David will remain with us until October 24th.

This brings me to our new head of Music vertical, Charlie Hellman. Charlie’s fifteen-year journey here is legendary; in addition to hiring and serving as a mentor to more successful Spotifers than I can count, he drove the creation of the US R&D team, Spotify for Artists, and so many of our music experiences from our very first radio feature to our expansion into music video. As we enter our next era of scale, we are centralizing all music functions under his leadership. Charlie’s proven ability to think strategically, advocate for both artists and Spotify’s role in growing Music, and collaborate effectively across the company and our industry make him the ideal leader for the Music organization of tomorrow.

Finally, this is about all of you. Music is and always will be the beating heart of Spotify. We are still in the early chapters of our story, and we’re setting our sights higher than ever. Our success rests on your work to deliver for artists, songwriters, and fans. Charlie joined when we were celebrating a then massive one million subscribers, and I can’t wait for the day when you’re telling a new hire that you remember when we hit our first billion.

Best,

Alex