Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen announced that he plans to step down as chief executive once a successor is identified, concluding an 18-year tenure leading the digital software company. Narayen shared the decision in a message to employees, noting that he has informed Adobe’s board and will work with directors in the coming months to identify the next CEO and ensure a smooth transition.
Narayen said he will remain involved with the company as chair of the board after the leadership change, supporting the incoming chief executive during the transition period. He highlighted Adobe’s transformation during his time as CEO, including expanding the workforce and growing into a global technology leader focused on digital creativity and customer experiences.
During Narayen’s leadership, Adobe grew from about 3,000 employees to more than 30,000 and expanded its reach to billions of users who rely on its products or the digital experiences created using its technology. Over that same period, the company’s annual revenue increased from less than $1 billion to more than $25 billion.
Looking ahead, Narayen emphasized the role of artificial intelligence and emerging creative workflows in shaping the next era of digital creativity. He said Adobe’s strategy, innovation roadmap and workforce position the company to lead this next chapter as the board conducts its search for the next CEO.
Narayen also reiterated his commitment to guiding the company through the transition and to continuing to support Adobe’s strategic priorities as it prepares for the next phase of leadership.
KEY QUOTES:
“I want to share with all of you that I have informed the Board of my decision to transition from my role as CEO of Adobe after over 18 years in the job (and the earnings call that I am about to conduct will be my 100th at the greatest company on the planet). Over the coming months, I will be working with Frank Calderoni, our lead Director, and the Board of Directors to identify my successor and to ensure a smooth transition. I will stay on as Chair of the Board to support the next CEO just as John and Chuck did when I took on this role.”
“This is not a goodbye by any means but a time for reflection. What attracted me to Adobe 28 years ago was our leadership in creating new market categories, world-class products, a relentless desire to innovate in every functional area of the company and the people I met during the interview process. We have continued to create new markets, deliver world-class products, drive innovation in everything we do and attract and retain the best and brightest employees. Over this time, we grew from ~3K employees to >30K employees, delivered technology that touched billions of people as customers of our products or the digital experiences that our customers create, leading to our revenue growing from <$1B to >$25B. I am so incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.”
“Our mission, Empower Everyone to Create, represents an even larger opportunity in the AI era. By delivering an innovative roadmap aligned to our audience strategy, we are positioning Adobe to lead this next chapter.”
Shantanu Narayen, Chair And CEO, Adobe
