After 18 years at the helm, Shantanu Narayen has decided to transition from his role as the chief executive officer of Adobe, once a suitable successor is appointed.
This transition signifies a major change for the global technology giant as it navigates a rapidly changing AI-driven digital landscape.
While he is stepping down from the top executive post, Narayen will continue to serve as the Chair of the Board, ensuring his extensive experience remains available to the next leader.
The board of directors of Adobe has set up a special committee to manage the leadership change and identify a replacement, considering both internal and external candidates.
Frank Calderoni, Adobe's Lead Independent Director, will chair the committee and oversee the search for the next CEO.
"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 Calderoni.
"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," he added.
Narayen has had a remarkable impact on Adobe's growth since he joined the organisation in 1998 as vice president and general manager of the firm's engineering technology group. He took over as the CEO in 2007.
During his time as the CEO, he oversaw the expansion of the workforce to more than 30,000 employees from around 3,000. The company's financial growth was also significant during this period, with annual revenue rising to over $25 billion from less than $1 billion.
"What attracted me to Adobe 28 years ago was our leadership in creating new market categories, world-class products, a relentless desire to innovate in every functional area of the company and the people I met during the interview process," said Narayen, in a message to Adobe employees.
Narayen conducted his 100th earnings call at Adobe on March 12, 2026.
As Adobe reshapes its growth strategy in the era of generative AI, Narayen believes the company's core mission is to empower everyone to create. This, he said, has gained even more relevance in the new technological era.
"The next era of creativity is being written right now - shaped by AI, by new workflows and by entirely new forms of expression," he said, adding, "Adobe has never waited for the future to arrive. We've anticipated it. We've built it. And we've led it. What gives me the greatest confidence isn't just our technology - it's our people."
As Adobe prepares for the next decade, Narayen said, "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, while continuing to deliver on our FY26 Must Wins."
"The opportunity in front of us is extraordinary. Together, we are uniquely positioned to lead it - and I remain deeply committed to doing so as we look ahead and prepare to name Adobe's next CEO. I am more confident than ever that Adobe's best days are still to come," he wrote.
Along with Narayen, several leaders of Indian-origin run major global tech companies today. Sundar Pichai leads Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google, while Satya Nadella heads Microsoft and has transformed it into a cloud- and AI-focused giant. Arvind Krishna leads IBM, focusing on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence. while Neal Mohan runs YouTube under the Google umbrella.
Commenting on Narayen's run at Adobe, Nadella posted on X, "You've built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what's possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere. What has always stood out to me is the empathy you've brought to the creative process and the example you've set as a leader."
Edited by Swetha Kannan