Ericsson Announces CEO Change: Per Narvinger Appointed to Succeed Börje Ekholm
Key Highlights
- Ericsson appoints Per Narvinger as new President and CEO, effective October 1, 2026.
- Narvinger succeeds long-serving CEO Börje Ekholm, who will step down on September 30, 2026 after nearly a decade in the role.
- Narvinger brings nearly 30 years of experience at Ericsson, most recently serving as Head of Business Area Networks and previously leading Cloud Software and Services.
Ericsson has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Per Narvinger as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. Narvinger will succeed current CEO Börje Ekholm, who has decided to step down after more than nine years in the role.
The transition follows a planned and orderly succession process led by the Board, ensuring leadership continuity at the global telecommunications and ICT company.
Per Narvinger has been with Ericsson since 1997 and brings nearly three decades of experience across the telecom and ICT sectors, including research, standards development, product management, and sales. Over the course of his career, he has held multiple senior leadership positions with global responsibility and has worked closely with key customers worldwide. His international experience includes long-term assignments in Australia and Spain.
Most recently, Narvinger has served as Head of Business Area Networks since March 15, 2025. Prior to that, he led Business Area Cloud Software and Services beginning in 2022.
Jan Carlson, Chair of Ericsson's Board of Directors, says: "The Board is pleased to announce that Per Narvinger has been appointed CEO of Ericsson as of October 1, 2026. He has deep technical knowledge of our industry as well as extensive commercial experience and has proved himself in several key leadership positions. The Board is very pleased to welcome Per into this role at a very important time for the company."
Current CEO, Börje Ekholm, will retire on September 30, 2026, and step down from the Board of Directors on October 1, 2026. He will continue in an advisory capacity to the new CEO until June 15, 2027.
Ekholm has led Ericsson since 2017 and has also served on its Board for 20 years. Following his transition, he will support leadership continuity during the handover period.
The Board noted that the succession reflects long-term governance planning and supports continued execution of Ericsson’s strategy in global communications infrastructure and next-generation connectivity technologies.
Source: Ericsson
Stay Connected with ISE Magazine
Subscribe to our newsletters and magazine for the latest telecom insights, explore the current issue for in-depth features and strategies, and register for upcoming webinars to learn directly from industry leaders.
