Shantanu Narayen will remain board chair at Adobe after a successor is appointed.
Adobe has announced that its long-serving chief executive, Shantanu Narayen, will step down after nearly two decades leading the company.
The San Jose–based software giant said Narayen will remain in the CEO role until a successor is appointed and will then continue as chair of the board to support the leadership transition.
The company’s board has created a special committee to oversee the search for a new chief executive, considering both internal and external candidates.
Board Praises Narayen’s Leadership
Adobe’s leadership praised Narayen for guiding the company through one of the most significant transformations in the technology industry.
Frank Calderoni, Adobe’s lead independent director, credited Narayen with positioning the company for the next phase of growth.
“Shantanu’s leadership transformed Adobe and positioned the company for success in the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement.
The board said the succession process aims to identify the right leader to guide Adobe through its next stage of expansion.
Narayen Announces Decision to Employees
Narayen informed employees of his decision in an internal message shared across the company.
“I want to share that I have informed the Board of my decision to transition from my role as CEO of Adobe after more than 18 years in the job,” he wrote.
He said he will work closely with the board during the coming months to identify a successor and ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Continuing Role as Board Chair
After stepping down as CEO, Narayen will remain chair of Adobe’s board.
He said the move will allow him to support the next chief executive during the transition period.
“I will stay on as chair to support the next CEO, just as previous leaders did when I took on this role,” Narayen said.
A Period of Major Growth
Narayen reflected on the transformation Adobe experienced during his tenure.
When he became CEO in 2007, the company had about 3,000 employees and an annual revenue below $1 billion.
Today, Adobe employs more than 30,000 people and generates over $25 billion in annual revenue.
The company’s products now serve billions of users worldwide through creative and digital experience platforms.
Transforming Adobe’s Business Model
One of Narayen’s most significant achievements was shifting Adobe from selling packaged software to a subscription-based cloud platform.
The transition led to the creation of services such as Creative Cloud, which provides tools including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro through subscription access.
Adobe also expanded its enterprise software offerings, building a large business around digital marketing and customer experience platforms.
Preparing for the AI Era
Narayen said Adobe’s future strategy will focus heavily on artificial intelligence.
He emphasized that AI is already reshaping how creators and businesses produce digital content.
“Our mission to empower everyone to create represents an even larger opportunity in the AI era,” Narayen said.
He added that new AI-driven workflows and creative tools will define the next generation of digital expression.
Industry Leaders React
Technology leaders across the industry responded quickly to the announcement.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised Narayen’s impact on the software industry.
“Congratulations on a legendary run at Adobe,” Nadella wrote on social media.
“You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands.”
Search for Adobe’s Next Leader
Adobe said Narayen will continue leading the company while the board conducts its search for a successor.
The company emphasized that the transition process will focus on maintaining stability while preparing Adobe for the next decade of innovation.
Narayen said his goal is to ensure the company enters its next phase with the right leadership team in place.
“I will ensure that Adobe is positioned for its next decade of greatness with the right leader and executive team,” he said.
