Adobe has announced that its long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen will step down from the CEO position after nearly two decades, prompting a leadership transition at one of the world’s most influential software companies. Reported by NDTV.
The San Jose-based company said Narayen will move out of the chief executive role once a successor is appointed. However, he will remain involved with the company as chair of the board to help support the leadership transition.
To manage the process, the company’s board has formed a special committee that will oversee the search for the next CEO. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates for the role.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to recognise Shantanu's contributions as CEO and architect of Adobe's transformation over the past 18 years, and for positioning Adobe for success in the AI-driven era,” said Frank Calderoni, Lead Independent Director of Adobe.
“As we take the next step in succession planning, we are focused on selecting the right leader for this next exciting chapter of the company's growth and are grateful for Shantanu's continued leadership as CEO to ensure a smooth transition,” Calderoni said.
Narayen informed employees about his decision through an internal message circulated across the company on Thursday.
“I want to share with all of you that I have informed the Board of my decision to transition from my role as CEO of Adobe after over 18 years in the job,” he wrote.
“Over the coming months, I will be working with Frank Calderoni, our lead Director, and the Board of Directors to identify my successor and to ensure a smooth transition.”
Narayen also reassured employees that he would continue to support the company after stepping down from the CEO role.
“I will stay on as Chair of the Board to support the next CEO just as John and Chuck did when I took on this role,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure, Narayen highlighted the company’s massive growth during the past two decades.
“Over this time, we grew from 3K employees to >30K employees, delivered technology that touched billions of people as customers of our products or the digital experiences that our customers create, leading to our revenue growing from <$1B to >$25B,” he said. “I am so incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.”
Narayen also pointed to the company’s future direction, particularly the expanding role of artificial intelligence in creative and digital tools.
“Our mission, Empower Everyone to Create, represents an even larger opportunity in the AI era,” he said.
“The next era of creativity is being written right now — shaped by AI, by new workflows and by entirely new forms of expression.”
Leaders across the technology industry reacted to the announcement, including Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, who congratulated Narayen on social media.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You've built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what's possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere.”
Adobe confirmed that Narayen will continue leading the company while the board conducts the search for a new chief executive.
“I will ensure that I set up Adobe for its next decade of greatness with the right leader and executive team, in partnership with the Board,” Narayen said.
Narayen joined Adobe nearly three decades ago and became CEO in 2007, overseeing one of the most significant transformations in the company’s history.
During his leadership, Adobe shifted from selling packaged software products to a subscription-based cloud model and significantly expanded its offerings across digital media, creative tools, and customer experience platforms.
The company’s flagship products — including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Creative Cloud — have become essential tools for creators, businesses, and digital publishers around the world.
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