Shantanu Narayen, the long-time leader of Adobe Inc., has announced that he will step down as the company’s CEO once a new successor is chosen. The company shared this leadership update in March 2026 as part of its future transition plans.
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen Announces Leadership Transition
Adobe revealed that Shantanu Narayen plans to transition from his role as Chief Executive Officer after serving in the position for about 18 years. The company’s board has started the process of finding a new CEO who will lead Adobe in the next phase of its growth.
Narayen will continue working as CEO until a successor is officially appointed. After that, he will remain involved with the company as the Chair of the Board to help guide the transition and support the new leadership.
A Major Era at Adobe
Shantanu Narayen joined Adobe in 1998 and became CEO in 2007. During his leadership, the company went through a major transformation. Adobe moved from selling packaged software to a subscription-based model through products like Creative Cloud.
This change helped Adobe grow significantly and become one of the world’s most important software companies used by designers, creators, and businesses. Under Narayen’s leadership, Adobe also expanded into digital marketing tools and artificial intelligence technologies.
Search for the Next CEO
Adobe’s Board of Directors has formed a special committee to search for Narayen’s successor. The committee will consider both internal and external candidates to find the best leader for the company’s future.
Company leaders have praised Narayen for his role in shaping Adobe’s growth and preparing it for the next generation of technology, including the rise of AI-powered creative tools.
Looking Ahead
Even though he plans to step down as CEO, Narayen said this is not a goodbye. He will remain closely connected to the company as board chair and help ensure a smooth leadership transition.
His nearly two decades as CEO are widely seen as one of the most important leadership periods in Adobe’s history, helping the company grow into a global technology leader in creativity and digital experiences.