Lengthy-time CEO Shantanu Narayen, who has led Adobe for greater than 18 years, will transition to the function of government chair, the corporate stated.
Additionally Learn: David Wadhwani, Anil Chakravarthy or…? Adobe Looks within & outside for CEO in AI era
Chakravarthy takes over as Adobe works to strengthen its place in design and artistic software program as fast advances in AI reshape the trade and draw new opponents into its conventional markets.
Adobe’s shares have fallen about 18% up to now this 12 months, following a decline of greater than 21% in 2025, as software program shares seen as susceptible to an AI-driven shakeout have come beneath stress.
The Photoshop maker has sought to counter these considerations by embedding AI throughout its product lineup. In June, Adobe raised its annual revenue forecast, pointing to rising demand for its AI-powered merchandise and instruments because it seeks to take care of its lead over challengers together with Figma and Canva.
Nonetheless, some analysts have remained skeptical concerning the longer-term affect of AI on Adobe’s enterprise.
The management change comes at a time of broader uncertainty on the firm. Adobe additionally introduced in June that finance chief Dan Durn would depart, with a everlasting successor but to be named.
Additionally Learn: Firms on AI spending spree: US tech companies cut most jobs in nearly 2 years
Adobe stated in March that Narayen would step down as soon as a successor had been appointed, bringing to an in depth a tenure throughout which he helped flip flagship merchandise together with Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Professional and InDesign into family names amongst inventive professionals worldwide.
Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 to guide its digital expertise enterprise. He later took on duty for bettering buyer interactions with Adobe, whereas additionally overseeing its international gross sales and customer-support operations.
Earlier than becoming a member of Adobe, Chakravarthy served as chief government of cloud data-management firm Informatica for 4 years. He beforehand held government positions at Symantec and VeriSign and labored at McKinsey & Co.
Chakravarthy holds a Bachelor of Expertise in Laptop Science and Engineering from the Institute of Expertise, Varanasi, India, and a Grasp of Science and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise.
He presently serves on the board of FIS and has beforehand served on the boards of Ansys Inc. and USAA Financial institution.
Adobe’s shares fell 1.7% in after-hours buying and selling on Thursday.
