In a blog post announcing his departure, MacFarlane described the industry and economic scenario facing Sonos. Music listening is shifting to streaming subscriptions, a change that the company was planning for. But the entry of tech giants such as Amazon and Google into the wifi speaker space, and the burgeoning voice-control technology, continue to pose a challenge. Sonos pivoted its business plans in March 2016 to reflect that increased competition.
“There are no typical transitions of leadership, especially for founder-led companies where the strength lies in a central interpretation of the culture that is essential for the formation and development of a new company in a complex and rapidly changing environment,” MacFarlane said. “However, the culture must move beyond the founder, and that’s a unique path for every company. It is that moment for Sonos and I trust Patrick and the team with this growth.” He added that he will remain “as a Sonos employee” to advise and mentor the company leaders.