SAN JOSE — Adobe has announced that Shantanu Narayen will transition from his role as Chief Executive Officer after leading the tech giant for nearly two decades. Narayen, who has been with the company for 28 years, will continue to serve as the Chair of the Board.
The Board of Directors has initiated a formal succession process, led by Lead Independent Director Frank Calderoni, to evaluate both internal and external candidates. Narayen will remain CEO until a successor is appointed to ensure a seamless transition.
Legacy of Transformation:
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Scale of Growth: Under Narayen’s leadership, Adobe grew from 3,000 employees to over 30,000, with annual revenue skyrocketing from under $1 billion to over $25 billion.
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Pivotal Shifts: He is credited as the architect of Adobe’s massive shift to the cloud and its current positioning as a leader in the AI-driven creativity era.
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Milestone Achievement: Narayen noted that his upcoming earnings call will be his 100th as CEO.
Executive Reflection:
In an email to employees, Narayen expressed his pride in Adobe’s mission to “Empower Everyone to Create,” stating that the next era of creativity—shaped by AI and new workflows—represents the company’s largest opportunity yet. He emphasized his commitment to delivering on the company’s FY26 goals while preparing the next leadership team for a “decade of greatness.”
