Ericsson on Wednesday announced a planned leadership succession that will see Per Narvinger take over as President and Chief Executive Officer on October 1, 2026, with Börje Ekholm stepping down from the CEO role the day before.
Narvinger is a long-tenured Ericsson executive who joined the company in 1997. Over nearly three decades he has worked across research, standardization, development, product management and sales, and has held senior roles focused on global customer engagement. His career at the company has included long-term assignments in Australia and Spain.
Most recently, Narvinger has been the head of Business Area Networks since March 15, 2025. Before that, he led Business Area Cloud Software and Services beginning in 2022. The company said the board chose Narvinger on the basis of his technical expertise and commercial experience accumulated across several leadership positions.
Jan Carlson, Chair of Ericsson's Board of Directors, said the board selected Narvinger for his technical knowledge and commercial experience gained through several key leadership positions.
Commenting on his appointment, Narvinger said: "It is a great honor to step into this role in a company where I have spent my entire professional career. It has been a pleasure working with Börje in our joint efforts to create a stronger Ericsson."
Ekholm will retire as CEO after more than nine years in the position and after serving 20 years as a member of the board. He will relinquish the CEO responsibilities on September 30, 2026, and will act as an executive advisor to Narvinger until June 15, 2027. Ekholm will also leave Ericsson's Board of Directors effective October 1, 2026.
The board said the CEO succession was executed as part of the company's ongoing leadership and governance planning.
Reflecting on his tenure, Ekholm said: "Since then we have turned Ericsson around and emerged as a global communications and technology leader."
Summary
Ericsson has publicly outlined a timed transition of executive leadership, naming Per Narvinger as incoming CEO effective October 1, 2026. The handover includes a short overlap in which outgoing CEO Börje Ekholm will serve as executive advisor until June 15, 2027, and Ekholm will depart the board when Narvinger assumes the CEO role.
Key points
- Per Narvinger, with Ericsson since 1997, will become President and CEO on October 1, 2026, after leading Business Area Networks since March 15, 2025.
- Börje Ekholm will step down as CEO on September 30, 2026, will serve as executive advisor until June 15, 2027, and will leave the Board of Directors on October 1, 2026.
- Sectors most directly affected by the leadership change include communications and technology, given Ericsson's position described as a global communications and technology leader.
Risks and uncertainties
- The timing of the transition - with Narvinger starting as CEO on October 1, 2026 and Ekholm serving as advisor through June 15, 2027 - creates a defined but extended handover period; the company has not provided further details on the scope of the advisory role.
- Ekholm's departure from the Board of Directors on October 1, 2026 will change the board's composition; the announcement does not specify successor board arrangements.
- The company statement does not outline any immediate strategic shifts under the new CEO, so the effect of the leadership change on Ericsson's specific operational plans and priorities is not detailed.