Adobe Names Anil Chakravarthy as New CEO

Adobe has named Anil Chakravarthy as its next president and chief executive officer, with the leadership change taking effect on December 1, 2026. Chakravarthy, who currently leads Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, will also join the company’s board. Shantanu Narayen, who has led Adobe for more than 18 years, will move into the role of executive chair and continue working with Chakravarthy during the transition.

The announcement, made by Adobe on September 3, comes at a significant point for the software company. Adobe is trying to expand its position in artificial intelligence while defending established products such as Photoshop, Illustrator and other creative tools from a growing field of AI-powered competitors. Reuters reported that Adobe shares fell 1.7% in after-hours trading following the announcement, highlighting the level of investor attention surrounding the transition.

The choice of Chakravarthy also gives Adobe an internal successor with experience across enterprise software, cloud transformation, customer experience and AI-focused products. Rather than bringing in an outside executive, Adobe is handing the CEO role to a leader who has spent more than six years inside the company and has been closely involved in its customer-experience strategy.

Why Anil Chakravarthy was chosen to lead Adobe into its AI era

Chakravarthy's current responsibilities provide an important clue to Adobe's priorities. He oversees Customer Experience Orchestration and worldwide field operations, areas that connect Adobe's technology with the businesses and enterprise customers using it. Adobe says his leadership helped expand that business through products including Adobe CX Enterprise, GenStudio and Brand Visibility, while also supporting the development of Adobe Experience Platform.

His background is also closely connected to the type of transformation Adobe now faces. Before joining Adobe, Chakravarthy spent four years as CEO of Informatica, where he led the company's move toward cloud and subscription services. Earlier positions at Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey & Company gave him experience across cybersecurity, enterprise technology, product management and business strategy.

Adobe's board said it conducted a selection process before unanimously determining that Chakravarthy was the right leader for the company's next phase. The decision places particular emphasis on his knowledge of Adobe's business, his experience developing products and his ability to lead during a period when artificial intelligence is changing software markets.

When will Anil Chakravarthy become Adobe CEO?

Chakravarthy will officially become Adobe's president and CEO on December 1, 2026. On the same date, Narayen will transition to executive chair and Chakravarthy will join Adobe's board of directors. The arrangement is designed to provide continuity rather than an abrupt change in leadership, with Narayen expected to work closely with the incoming CEO.

Adobe first said in March that Narayen planned to step down as CEO after a successor was identified. His eventual move marks the end of one of the longest CEO tenures among major technology companies. Narayen became Adobe CEO in December 2007 after previously serving as president and chief operating officer.

What does Shantanu Narayen's move mean for Adobe?

Narayen is not leaving Adobe entirely. His transition to executive chair means he will remain involved with the company and support the leadership handover. That gives Adobe an experienced figure who can continue contributing institutional knowledge while Chakravarthy takes responsibility for day-to-day operations and the company's next growth strategy.

Narayen's tenure included Adobe's major shift toward a cloud and subscription-based business model. The company expanded its creative software ecosystem and built a substantial digital-experience business during his leadership. Adobe is now entering another major transition, this time as generative and agentic AI reshape how software is created, purchased and used.

Why Adobe's stock and AI strategy are under scrutiny

The CEO transition arrives while investors are closely watching Adobe's response to AI. Reuters reported that Adobe shares had fallen about 18% during 2026 through the announcement after declining more than 21% in 2025. The pressure reflects broader concerns about whether generative AI could disrupt established software companies, while Adobe argues that AI-powered products can strengthen its position.

Adobe has continued adding AI capabilities across its product portfolio, including tools connected with creativity and customer experiences. The company has also been developing agentic software and AI-powered workflows. That makes the incoming CEO's experience particularly relevant because his recent work has involved connecting customer data, content and AI-enabled experiences for large organizations.

The challenge for Chakravarthy will be to turn those investments into sustained customer adoption and growth. Adobe needs to show that AI is not simply an added feature around its existing products but a source of new value that can reinforce its competitive position against companies such as Figma and Canva and against newer AI-focused tools.

What is Anil Chakravarthy's background?

Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 as executive vice president and general manager of the Digital Experience business. Later that year, he also took responsibility for worldwide field operations serving enterprise customers across Adobe's product portfolio. In December 2021, he became president of Digital Experience and worldwide field operations.

His education includes a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Varanasi, India, followed by a master's degree and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before Adobe, he was CEO of Informatica and previously held senior technology positions at Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey & Company.

Adobe's announcement also points to his role in expanding the company's customer-experience business and developing AI-related offerings. That combination of enterprise experience and knowledge of Adobe's internal operations is likely to be central to his new role as the company navigates its next phase.

What happens next at Adobe?

The immediate focus will be the leadership transition between now and December 1. Narayen will continue as CEO until the handover, while Chakravarthy prepares to take responsibility for the company and joins its board. Adobe is also scheduled to report its third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on September 10, giving investors another opportunity to assess the company's financial performance and AI strategy before the leadership change takes effect.

The succession is therefore more than a routine change at the top. Adobe is keeping continuity through Narayen's executive-chair role while placing an experienced insider in charge at a time of rapid technological change. Chakravarthy's success will ultimately depend on whether he can turn Adobe's investments in AI, customer experience and cloud software into durable growth while maintaining the strength of its core creative products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Anil Chakravarthy?

Anil Chakravarthy is a technology executive who currently leads Adobe's Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations. Before Adobe, he served as CEO of Informatica and held senior roles at Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey & Company.

When will Anil Chakravarthy become Adobe CEO?

Chakravarthy will become Adobe's president and CEO on December 1, 2026. He will also join Adobe's board of directors on that date.

What will happen to Shantanu Narayen?

Shantanu Narayen will move from CEO to executive chair on December 1, 2026. He will remain involved with Adobe and work with Chakravarthy during the leadership transition.