Fredrik Wester is stepping down as CEO of Paradox Interactive, the company behind Stellaris. Paradox's board announced Mattias Lilja as his successor on November 11.
Wester will remain in the role through the handover, then focus on the company's long-term development as a board member. He also remains Paradox's largest shareholder. The company says its strategic direction is unchanged.
Wester first became CEO in April 2009, moved to executive chairman in August 2018, and returned as CEO in September 2021. He described that return as a point when Paradox needed a reset.
Lilja puts players and modders on the agenda
Since 2021, Lilja has taken on more responsibility for operations and carrying out Paradox's strategy, while Wester has concentrated increasingly on longer-term goals.
Wester said the company had streamlined its strategy, rebuilt its development pipeline, and developed its commercial offering since his return. He credited Lilja with a central role in that work.
“My plan was never to be CEO for life,” Wester said. “The goal was to build the foundation before passing the baton on for the next chapter in the company's journey.”
Lilja's stated priorities for Paradox include:
- Putting further investment into the company's core business of strategy and management games.
- Pushing its game design further and working more closely with players.
- Improving the company's working practices and organization, keeping player value as the priority.
- Developing more and better tools and services for both modders and players.
