Adobe is preparing for a major change at the top, with Anil Chakravarthy set to take over as president and chief executive officer from longtime leader Shantanu Narayen.
Adobe announced the leadership transition on September 3, saying Chakravarthy will become CEO and join the company’s board on December 1, 2026.
Narayen, who has led Adobe for nearly two decades, will move into the role of executive chair. He is expected to work closely with Chakravarthy during the transition and continue supporting the company as it moves deeper into artificial intelligence.
The appointment puts another Indian-born technology executive at the head of one of the world’s most recognisable software companies.
Chakravarthy currently leads Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations. He joined Adobe in 2020 after serving as chief executive of enterprise software company Informatica.
Before that, he held senior roles at companies including Symantec and VeriSign, as well as McKinsey & Company.
His academic background is also closely tied to technology. Chakravarthy earned a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Varanasi, followed by a master’s degree and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
At Adobe, his responsibilities have expanded considerably since he joined.
He initially led the Digital Experience business and later took responsibility for worldwide field operations. Under his leadership, Adobe expanded its work in customer experience and AI-powered tools, including products such as Adobe CX Enterprise, GenStudio and Brand Visibility.
That experience is likely to be particularly important as Adobe enters another difficult phase of the software industry.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people create images, videos, documents and marketing material. Adobe has responded by adding AI features across products such as Photoshop, Illustrator and its wider Creative Cloud ecosystem.
The challenge for the incoming CEO will be to make sure Adobe remains at the centre of that shift.
Narayen has been one of the most influential leaders in Adobe’s history. He became CEO in December 2007 and oversaw the company’s transformation from a business heavily dependent on packaged software into a major subscription-based software company.
During his tenure, Adobe also built a much larger digital experience business and expanded its presence across creative, document and marketing software.
Now the company is entering a new phase. Adobe said its board unanimously selected Chakravarthy following a special committee process. Narayen described him as an experienced transformational leader with deep knowledge of Adobe’s business.
Chakravarthy will inherit a company facing intense competition and a rapidly changing technology landscape.
AI-powered design tools are becoming easier to use, while newer companies are challenging established software businesses with cheaper and increasingly capable products. At the same time, Adobe is trying to build AI into its existing products without weakening the value of its core creative tools.
The leadership change therefore comes at a significant moment.
Adobe’s next CEO will not simply be taking over a successful software company. He will be expected to help decide what that company looks like in an AI-driven market.
For Narayen, the move marks the end of his time as Adobe’s chief executive, although he will remain closely involved as executive chair.
For Chakravarthy, December 1 will mark the beginning of a new chapter and one of the biggest leadership roles in the global technology industry.
