Adobe has announced a major leadership transition that will take effect on December 1, 2026. The company said Anil Chakravarthy will become its new President and CEO, succeeding longtime chief executive Shantanu Narayen. Narayen will move into the role of Executive Chair and will continue working closely with the company during the transition.
The announcement comes at an important time for Adobe, as the software giant continues to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across creativity, productivity and customer experience.
Anil Chakravarthy to Lead Adobe
Anil Chakravarthy currently serves as president of Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and oversees worldwide field operations. He joined Adobe in January 2020 and has held several senior leadership responsibilities within the company.
During his tenure, Chakravarthy has played a key role in expanding Adobe’s customer experience business and developing AI-powered products. He has also been involved in the integration of acquisitions including Workfront and Semrush.
Anil Chakravarthy’s Background
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| New role | President and CEO of Adobe |
| Effective date | December 1, 2026 |
| Current role | President, Customer Experience Orchestration |
| Joined Adobe | January 2020 |
| Previous CEO role | Informatica |
| Education | IIT Varanasi and MIT |
Before joining Adobe, Chakravarthy served as CEO of Informatica and held senior positions at companies including Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey & Company. He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Varanasi, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Shantanu Narayen to Become Executive Chair
Shantanu Narayen has led Adobe as CEO since 2007 and became chairman of the board in 2017. Under his leadership, Adobe transformed its business from traditional desktop software toward a cloud-based subscription model and built a major position in digital experiences.
From December 1, 2026, Narayen will become Executive Chair. Adobe said he will work with Chakravarthy to support a smooth leadership transition and the company’s continuing transformation.
AI Will Be a Major Focus for Adobe
The leadership change arrives as Adobe faces a rapidly changing software market. Generative AI, agentic software and new AI-powered creative tools are reshaping how consumers and businesses create and manage digital content.
Chakravarthy has indicated that he wants to strengthen Adobe’s leadership in the next era of AI and agentic software, particularly across creativity, productivity and customer experience.
Key points:
- ► Anil Chakravarthy becomes Adobe CEO and President on December 1, 2026.
- ► Shantanu Narayen will become Executive Chair.
- ► Chakravarthy will also join Adobe’s Board of Directors.
- ► AI innovation will remain a major strategic priority.
- ► The transition is designed to maintain continuity while preparing Adobe for its next phase of growth.
What This Means for Adobe
The appointment of an experienced internal leader suggests that Adobe is looking to maintain strategic continuity while adapting to the growing influence of AI technology.
With Chakravarthy taking charge and Narayen remaining involved as Executive Chair, Adobe will enter a new leadership chapter while continuing to focus on innovation, customer experience and AI-driven products.
