(Telecompaper) Ericsson announced that its chairman Leif Johansson plans to step down. johanssen told the company that he would not stand for re-election at next year's annual shareholders meeting. Johansson has served as chairman since 2011 and said it was "an exciting but also challenging time". With the new CEO Borje Ekholm starting this year and presentation of a new business strategy, Ericsson is entering a new phase. With new shareholders as well, "it is natural to let the owners jointly propose a chairman", Johansson said in a statement.