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Paradox Interactive: Fredrik Wester steps down, Mattias Lilja becomes CEO on 4 January

Paradox Interactive's board of directors has appointed current deputy CEO Mattias Lilja as chief executive; he takes over from Fredrik Wester on 4 January 2027. Wester remains on the board and is still the company's largest shareholder.

NewsStatcade editorial team2 min read
Statcade graphic: Paradox Interactive, Mattias Lilja chief executive from 4 January 2027; 65,962 players on Steam across the six Paradox games in the Statcade catalogue
Image: Statcade graphic based on Paradox Interactive and Steam data

A change at the top for Paradox Interactive, the Swedish publisher of Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Stellaris and Cities: Skylines. In a statement on 11 November, the board of directors appointed Mattias Lilja, currently deputy CEO, as chief executive. Lilja takes office on 4 January 2027. Until then Fredrik Wester remains in post, to ensure an orderly transition.

Wester informed the board of his decision to step down. He will remain a board member, focusing on the company's long-term development, and continues to be its largest shareholder. According to the company, the strategic direction does not change. "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."

Wester first became chief executive in 2009. In 2018 he stepped down to become executive chairman of the board, and he returned as CEO in 2021. According to Paradox, since then Lilja has taken on growing responsibility for operations and the execution of the strategy. Lilja joined Paradox in 2009 as the company's first producer. He later led the studio organisation and publishing, and served as chief operating officer. "Now we're stepping up the pace," he said: the company will make new investments in its core business and develop new tools for modders and players.

The handover comes in a difficult year. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Paradox recorded a sharp fall in operating profit after the disappointing results of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, whose costs were written down by 355.3 million Swedish kronor.

The Statcade figure

In Statcade's 12 November reading (the 12:21 p.m. Italian time update), the six Paradox games in our catalogue had a combined 65,962 concurrent players on Steam. Hearts of Iron IV had 26,505, Crusader Kings III 11,197, Stellaris 7,406, Cities: Skylines II 7,291, Cities: Skylines 6,785 and Europa Universalis IV 6,778.

Hearts of Iron IV statisticsCrusader Kings III statisticsStellaris statisticsCities: Skylines II statisticsCities: Skylines statisticsEuropa Universalis IV statistics

Sources: official Paradox Interactive statement (11 November 2026); GamesIndustry.biz (12 November 2026); Statcade reading of 12 November 2026, 11:21 UTC. Text by Statcade.