Adobe names Anil Chakravarthy as CEO, Narayen transitions to executive chair
Anil Chakravarthy was previously the chief executive of cloud data management company Informatica for four years; Shantanu Narayen has served as CEO for over 18 years
Adobe announced on Thursday (September 3, 2026) that Anil Chakravarthy will succeed long-standing CEO Shantanu Narayen as the new company leader, while Narayen will step into the role of executive chair. This move comes as Adobe faces increasing competition from AI-driven rivals that threaten its dominance in design software. The CEO transition aims to address investor concerns about potential disruptions to Adobe's business caused by advancements in AI technology.
The company's share price has fallen by roughly 18% this year, following a more significant decline of over 21% in 2025.
Adobe had previously boosted its annual profit forecast in June, highlighting the growing demand for its AI products and tools, which play a crucial role in its strategy to maintain its competitive edge over challengers such as Figma and Canva. However, the firm also revealed the departure of finance chief Dan Durn during the same month, adding to the uncertainty until a permanent successor is appointed.
Narayen's tenure as CEO, which began over 18 years ago, saw him transform flagship products like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign into essential tools for creatives worldwide. Chakravarthy, who joined Adobe in January 2020 to lead its digital experience business, has since been responsible for enhancing customer interactions, overseeing global sales, and managing customer support teams.
He previously served as CEO of cloud data management company Informatica for four years. Following the announcement, Adobe's shares experienced a 1% decrease in after-hours trading on Thursday (September 3, 2026).
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
