Paradox CEO Frederik Wester steps down after 15 years leading the publisher

Frederik Wester, the longtime CEO of Paradox Interactive, is stepping down after leading the company for a combined 15 years. The publisher of games like Cities: Skylines, Stellaris, and Crusader Kings 3 announced the leadership change in a statement, saying Wester will remain in the role until January 4, 2027, to ensure a smooth transition. Current deputy CEO Mattias Lilja will take over at that time.

Wester said his plan was never to be CEO for life and that the goal was to build a foundation before passing the baton. He noted that since returning as CEO in 2021, the company streamlined its strategy, rebuilt its pipeline, and developed its commercial offerings. Wester first served as CEO from 2009 to 2018, then as executive chairman, before returning to the top role in 2021.

The past few years have been challenging for Paradox. The launch of Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2, which faced multiple delays and a developer switch, failed to connect with critics and audiences, leading to a 162 percent decline in operating profit. The company also canceled the Sims competitor Life By You, indefinitely delayed Prison Architect 2 after parting ways with its original developer, and split with BattleTech studio Harebrained Schemes following the commercial failure of The Lamplighters League. Cities: Skylines 2 had a disastrous launch in 2023, its console release remains pending, and development moved to a new studio after Paradox split with former developer Colossal Order last year.

Incoming CEO Mattias Lilja expressed optimism about the company's future, promising further investments in core business, pushing game design boundaries, and working more closely with players. Paradox still has several promising titles on its upcoming slate, including continued work on grand strategy games like Crusader Kings 3, Europa Universalis 5, and Stellaris, as well as the upcoming Lego Skylines and post-apocalyptic strategy game Afterworld.