Adobe Taps Anil Chakravarthy as New CEO Amidst AI Pressure
Adobe has announced Anil Chakravarthy as its next President and CEO, effective December 1, 2026, marking the biggest leadership change for the company in nearly two decades as it navigates an AI-driven software market.
The short version
- Anil Chakravarthy will assume the role of President and CEO of Adobe, effective December 1, 2026, and will also join the Board of Directors.
- Current Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen, who led Adobe for over 18 years, will transition to Executive Chair on December 1, 2026.
- Adobe shares fell approximately 2-3% in pre-market and extended trading on Friday, September 4, 2026, following the announcement.
- The leadership change comes as Adobe faces increasing pressure from new AI rivals like Canva and Figma, and after its stock dropped 18% year-to-date in 2026.
- David Wadhwani, head of Adobe's creativity and productivity unit, and Dan Durn, Adobe's finance chief, will also exit the company.
Adobe, the software giant behind Creative Cloud and Digital Experience products, is gearing up for its biggest leadership shift in nearly two decades. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the San Jose, California-based company announced that Anil Chakravarthy will become its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1, 2026. This move comes as Adobe aims to solidify its standing in an increasingly competitive, AI-driven software landscape.
Shantanu Narayen, who has helmed Adobe as CEO for over 18 years since December 2007, will transition to the role of Executive Chair on the same date. Narayen had publicly announced his intention to step down in March 2026 after a successor was identified, initiating a rigorous six-and-a-half-month selection process led by Lead Independent Director Frank Calderoni, according to Adobe's Newsroom and Morningstar.
Who is Anil Chakravarthy?
Anil Chakravarthy brings a wealth of experience to the top role, currently serving as President of Adobe's Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations. He joined Adobe in January 2020 as Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Digital Experience business and was promoted to President of Digital Experience in December 2021, as reported by Investing.com. His tenure has seen him transform and expand Adobe's customer experience unit through innovation-led growth, according to Calderoni.
Shantanu Narayen expressed strong confidence in his successor, stating, “Anil is an experienced transformational leader who leads with values, integrity and a deep knowledge of our business. He has a proven record of building and delivering category-defining products that serve our broad range of customers. I could not be more confident that Anil is the right person to lead Adobe's growth in an AI-driven era and look forward to working closely with him in my new role as executive chair,” according to Business Chief. Chakravarthy, in turn, acknowledged Narayen's
Frequently asked questions
When will Anil Chakravarthy officially assume his new role as CEO?
Anil Chakravarthy will officially become President and Chief Executive Officer of Adobe, and join its Board of Directors, on December 1, 2026.
What other significant executive changes are happening at Adobe?
Alongside the CEO transition, David Wadhwani, current head of Adobe's creativity and productivity unit, will leave the company. Additionally, Dan Durn, Adobe's finance chief, is also announced to exit.
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