Yubico has announced a leadership transition, with long-serving chief executive Mattias Danielsson stepping down after nearly 16 years with the company. Danielsson will remain closely involved as a senior advisor for the next six months to support continuity and ensure a smooth handover.
Jerrod Chong has been appointed acting CEO. Chong has been with Yubico for more than 12 years and most recently served as president and chief operating officer, working closely across product, operations, customers, partners and the broader identity ecosystem. His appointment comes as Yubico enters what it describes as its next phase of growth, with increasing demand for phishing-resistant authentication amid an AI-driven and increasingly complex threat landscape.
Danielsson played a central role in guiding Yubico from its early years into a market leader in modern, phishing-resistant authentication, helping establish the company’s reputation for balancing security, usability and privacy. Under his leadership, Yubico became a key proponent of high-assurance authentication standards and device-bound passkeys.
As acting CEO, Chong said Yubico will remain focused on executing its existing strategy, including standards development, product roadmap, operations and financial guidance. He said the company is also preparing to expand its offerings in 2026 to address broader digital identity security needs for organisations and individuals worldwide, while maintaining its leadership position in phishing-resistant authentication.
Yubico co-founder and board member Stina Ehrensvard said Danielsson’s contribution had been pivotal in shaping the company and thanked him for his long-standing service. She said the board is confident in the leadership transition plan and expressed full confidence in Chong’s ability to lead the company through its next stage of growth, noting his deep understanding of the business and the trust he has earned across teams and customers.
The company said its founders, executive team and board remain aligned on Yubico’s mission to make the internet safer for everyone, with leadership continuity and strategic focus maintained throughout the transition.
