The Adobe CEO transition will elevate Anil Chakravarthy to president and chief executive officer on December 1, with Shantanu Narayen moving to executive chair.
Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) said Chakravarthy will also join its board of directors. The appointment followed a special committee’s selection process, according to the company’s official leadership announcement.
Chakravarthy currently leads Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations. He joined the company in January 2020 after serving as chief executive of Informatica and has overseen products including Adobe CX Enterprise, GenStudio and Brand Visibility.
Adobe CEO Transition Keeps Narayen in Executive Role
Narayen will remain involved as executive chair and work with Chakravarthy during the transition. The structure is intended to preserve continuity while shifting day-to-day leadership to an executive closely associated with Adobe’s enterprise and artificial-intelligence strategy.
The company is navigating rapid changes in creative software and digital marketing as generative AI alters both customer expectations and competitive dynamics. Chakravarthy said his priorities include growth and Adobe’s position in agentic software for creativity, productivity and customer experience.
Leadership continuity may reduce transition risk, but the change does not by itself determine future financial performance. Investors will look for details about strategy, product monetization and spending when Adobe reports fiscal third-quarter results on September 10.
