David Kaefer to Step Down as Spotify’s Music and Audiobooks Business Chief, Charlie Hellman Named as Successor

Senior Spotify executive David Kaefer is exiting the business after seven years, MBW has learned.

Kaefer, the exec in charge of Spotify’s music business and audiobooks business, has decided to leave Spotify at the end of October.

Succeeding him as SVP and Global Head of Music is Charlie Hellman, a Spotify veteran who joined in 2011 to start Spotify’s US product team.

Kaefer has led Spotify’s music licensing and partnerships for over seven years. He joined the company in 2018 as VP, Global Leader,  Business Affairs, and oversaw the launch of Spotify’s Audiobook Business starting in 2023.

In December 2023, he took on the official title of VP, Global Leader, Music and Audiobook Businesses at the streaming platform.

Kaefer’s departure was confirmed in an internal memo sent to Spotify’s music team today (October 1) by Alex Norström, Spotify’s co-President and Chief Business Officer (and incoming co-CEO).

“I’ve always valued [David Kaefer’s] strategic saviness and unique blend of toughness and humor.”

Alex Norström

“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,” wrote Norström in the memo, obtained by MBW.

He added: “On a personal note, I’ve always valued his strategic saviness and unique blend of toughness and humor.”

Hellman, the exec succeeding Kaefer, built some of the company’s first recommendation and social features in the early years of the platform. He then went on to work on Spotify for Artists and the suite of fan engagement, promotion, and monetization tools within it.

He also oversees Spotify’s music policy and economics work, including Loud & Clear, anti-fraud protections, and royalty system processes.

In his memo to Spotify’s music team today, Alex Norström explained that “as we enter our next era of scale, we are centralizing all music functions under his leadership”.

Added Norström: “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.”

“After seven years, I’m moving on from Spotify and entering a new phase in my career. I’ll be advising and investing in tech, media, and sustainability while working closer to home on the West Coast.”

David Kaefer 

Confirming the news himself in a social media post published on Wednesday morning, Kaefer said: “After seven years, I’m moving on from Spotify and entering a new phase in my career. I’ll be advising and investing in tech, media, and sustainability while working closer to home on the West Coast.”

Added Kaefer: “I’m extremely grateful to Daniel Ek, Alex Norstrom, and Gustav Söderström for trusting me to lead Spotify’s music and audiobooks businesses. Also – thank you to a long-time mentor, Horacio Gutierrez, for recruiting me.

“I owe a huge debt to my bandmates for their friendship and tremendous work. I will miss you.

“I also owe a huge debt to the many external partners I’ve worked with at Spotify and, before that, at Microsoft. I remain inspired by how collaboration and partnership can have a profoundly positive impact on the world. Many in my network are among the best in the world at this type of work and building partnerships has never been more important.”

You can read Alex Norström’s internal memo in full below:

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

News of Kaefer’s departure arrives just a day after the company revealed that its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Ek is stepping away from the CEO role and will transition to Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2026.

The company also announced Gustav Söderström, co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, co-President and Chief Business Officer, as its co-Chief Executive Officers.

These changes will all be effective January 1, 2026.Music Business Worldwide