June 16, 2026

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Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) announced a planned CEO transition, with Per Narvinger appointed President and Chief Executive Officer as Börje Ekholm prepares to step down after nearly a decade leading the company.
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Ericsson is a global telecommunications equipment and technology company that provides 5G networks, cloud software, services, enterprise connectivity, and communications infrastructure for telecom operators and enterprises.

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Planned Leadership Transition

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Narvinger will become President and CEO on October 1, 2026. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks.
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He joined Ericsson in 1997 and has held senior roles across research, standardization, product development, product management, sales, cloud software, services, and networks. He has also worked on long-term assignments in Australia and Spain.
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Ekholm will step down as CEO on September 30, 2026. He will serve as executive advisor to Narvinger until June 15, 2027, and will also step down from Ericsson’s board on October 1, 2026.
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Ericsson said the board carried out a prepared and orderly CEO succession process as part of its ongoing leadership and governance planning.

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Why the Transition Matters

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This is not an abrupt leadership change. The long handoff period gives Ericsson time to maintain continuity while Narvinger takes over during a key period for telecom infrastructure, AI-driven connectivity demand, and network modernization.
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Narvinger’s background is also closely tied to Ericsson’s core business. His recent leadership of Business Area Networks gives him direct exposure to one of the company’s most important segments, while his earlier role in Cloud Software and Services adds experience across another major part of Ericsson’s strategy.

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The Bigger Picture

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Ericsson is positioning this CEO change as a smooth succession rather than a disruption.
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Ekholm led the company through a major turnaround after taking over in 2017, while Narvinger brings long company tenure, technical expertise, and commercial experience. The transition keeps leadership inside the organization at a time when telecom networks are becoming more important to AI, automation, and data-heavy applications.
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