Adobe appoints Anil Chakravarthy as new CEO; Narayen moves to executive chair

Adobe Inc. announced a leadership transition Wednesday, elevating Anil Chakravarthy to the position of Chief Executive Officer effective December 1. Chakravarthy, who has held senior roles within the software giant, will take the helm from Shantanu Narayen, who has served as CEO since 2007.

Narayen will assume the newly created role of Executive Chairman, maintaining an active leadership position as the company charts its strategic direction. The transition marks a significant milestone for the design and creative software company, which has grown substantially under Narayen's 17-year tenure.

Chakravarthy brings extensive experience within Adobe's operations and product divisions. His appointment reflects the company's confidence in his ability to lead the organization through its next phase of growth and innovation. The leadership change comes as Adobe continues to expand its portfolio, particularly in digital experience and enterprise software solutions.

Both executives have been instrumental in shaping Adobe's evolution from a traditional software company to a cloud-based services provider. Narayen's shift to Executive Chairman will allow him to focus on long-term strategic initiatives while Chakravarthy assumes day-to-day operational responsibilities.