Shantanu Narayan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American software company Adobe, has decided to step down from his post. The company said that Narayan will step down once the new CEO is appointed, although he will continue in his role as chairman of the company’s board.
When did the company make this announcement?
The company made this announcement during its financial results for the first quarter of FY 2026 (ending February 27, 2026). Shares of Adobe, listed on the Nasdaq Composite, fell nearly seven percent in after-hours trading following the announcement.
CEO of the company for 18 years
Narayan, who has been Adobe’s CEO for the past 18 years, has decided to step down from his position following the appointment of his successor by the board, the company said in an exchange filing with Nasdaq. Shantanu Narayan has served as Adobe’s CEO for 18 years. He has decided to transition from the CEO position once his successor is appointed. He will remain as Chairman of the Board of the company.
How was Narayan’s tenure?
Narayan joined Adobe in 1988, where he served as vice president and general manager. After this, in 2007 he was appointed CEO of the company. Under his leadership, Adobe moved away from its traditional software license model to a subscription-based model and expanded its business extensively through the Creative Cloud platform. During his tenure, the company built a strong presence in the field of digital creative tools and solutions and is now also focusing on new opportunities in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Company started search for new CEO
The company also informed that the Board of Directors has started the process of searching for a new CEO. For this, a special committee has been constituted, which will monitor the selection of potential candidates. The board has appointed Frank Calderoni, Lead Independent Director of Adobe, as the chair of this special committee. This committee will consider both internal and external candidates.
Satya Nadella praised Narayan
Appreciating Narayan’s tenure, Satya Nadella congratulated him on social media. Nadella said, “Congratulations to Shantanu for a wonderful and historic tenure at Adobe.” You’ve built one of the world’s most significant software companies and opened new possibilities for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands. He further said that Narayen’s leadership and his approach to the creative ecosystem have made a lasting impact on the entire tech industry. Adobe said that Narayen will continue to fulfill his responsibilities as Chair of the Board while the process of selecting the company’s new CEO continues.
