Narvinger, a veteran who joined Ericsson in 1997, brings a deep technical background to the top role, having managed research, product development, and global sales. His recent leadership of the Business Area Networks and Cloud Software and Services divisions provided the board with the confidence that he can navigate the company into the era of industrial AI. He will officially assume the presidency on October 1, 2026, while Ekholm remains on board as an executive advisor until June 15, 2027.

Ekholm took the helm in 2017 when the company faced significant market pressure. Under his guidance, Ericsson pivoted toward becoming a leader in mobile connectivity and network infrastructure. Chairman Jan Carlson praised the outgoing CEO for his strategic vision, noting that the company is now better positioned to compete in the evolving technology landscape. Narvinger stated that his focus will remain on leveraging Ericsson's connectivity solutions to meet the demands of physical AI, ensuring the firm continues to provide value to global customers.