Spotify Appoints Christian Luiga, Former Saab Executive As CFO

Spotify Appoints Christian Luiga, Former Saab Executive as CFO: Spotify, the renowned music streaming platform, has announced the appointment of Christian Luiga as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Luiga, a seasoned executive from the Swedish defence and security industry, currently serves as the Deputy CEO and CFO at Saab, a leading company specializing in aeronautics, weapons, command and control systems, sensors, and underwater systems.

Luiga is slated to join Spotify, where he will be based in Sweden, following the completion of his six-month notice period at Saab, which concludes by October 3rd. His appointment comes as Spotify’s former CFO, Paul Vogel, steps down. During the interim period, Ben Kung, Spotify’s Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, will assume the role of CFO.

The selection of Luiga as Spotify’s new CFO raises eyebrows, given his background in the defence industry. However, it appears that the connection between Luiga and Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, can be traced back to Ek’s investment fund, Prima Materia. In 2021, Prima Materia invested €100 million in Helsing, a European AI-focused defence company, where Ek became co-chairman. Subsequently, in September 2023, Helsing secured a €209 million Series B funding round, with Saab among the investors, potentially facilitating the connection between Ek and Luiga.

While Luiga’s arrival marks a new chapter for Spotify, the company bids farewell to Jules Parker, its Global Head of Songwriter and Publisher Partnerships. Parker, who has been with Spotify for eight years, announced his departure via LinkedIn. He will remain with the company until the end of July, highlighting some of the team’s achievements during his tenure, including the launch of songwriter playlists, clickable song credits, analytics for publishers, and initiatives such as songwriter camps and producer residencies.

As Spotify navigates changes in its executive team, the appointments reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to evolve and innovate within the dynamic music streaming landscape.

Spotify Appoints Christian Luiga, Former Saab Executive as CFO