Adobe has confirmed the appointment of Anil Chakravarthy as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective December 1. He will succeed Shantanu Narayen, who announced his departure earlier this year. Currently, Chakravarthy oversees Adobe’s customer experience orchestration and global field operations. Along with his new role, he will also join the corporate board of directors.
Narayen arrived at the enterprise software giant in 1998 and steered the firm as top boss for 18 years. He signaled his retirement plans in March, and going forward, he will assume the role of executive chairman and coordinate directly with Chakravarthy to guarantee an orderly executive transition. Moments like this don’t come along often. I’m excited to jump in. I have a few company ideas I’m eager to pursue and plan to spend the next few months pressure-testing. I know I want to pour myself into something for many years and make a meaningful impact on our industry and society While I don’t know the exact shape my next adventure will take. As I think about what’s next, I’m fortunate to have great people around me. I’m excited to spend more time with Asheem Chandna and Saam Motamedi as I explore and pressure-test ideas, and to continue working with Ravi Mhatre to explore broader themes emerging right now. Both have been important parts of my journey, as CEO of AppDynamics and an investor. I’m grateful for their perspectives as I embark on a new chapter.
What the incoming Adobe CEO said
Sharing the development via LinkedIn, Wadhwani explained that he intends to evaluate and develop several personal entrepreneurial ventures: A New Journey 5 years ago, I wrote that returning to Adobe felt like coming home. Wadhwani, who managed Adobe’s creativity and productivity division for almost five years, was widely viewed as a top candidate for the chief executive post, largely due to his involvement in the planned takeover of design software provider Figma, as per CNBC. I could not be more confident that Anil is the right person to lead Adobe’s growth in an AI-driven era and look forward to working closely with him in my new role as executive chair, ” said Narayen in a released statement. Alongside the CEO transition, longtime company leader David Wadhwani confirmed he is stepping down from Adobe. Products can be conceived and launched at a speed that seemed impossible a few years ago.
“ Adobe’s opportunity ahead is limitless with our track record in creating new market categories and world-class products. Anil is an experienced transformational leader who leads with values, integrity and a deep knowledge of our business. He has a proven record of building and delivering category-defining products that serve our broad range of customers. After Adobe posted the transition message from the Board of Directors, Anil Chakravarthy, reposted it, saying: “Honored and incredibly excited for what’s ahead at Adobe. Our customers, employees (best in the world!) and AI innovation are top of mind, as always. Deep gratitude to our Chair & CEO, Shantanu Narayen, and the Adobe Board of Directors for their trust in me. Adobe’s best days are ahead! Adobe has been a defining part of my life. I grew up here professionally. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredibly passionate, genuine people. I’ve built lifelong friendships. Over two chapters, I’ve had the opportunity to help shape a company, products and communities I care deeply about. As much as Adobe means to me, I’ve decided this is the right moment for me to start a new chapter, and it’s a great moment for Adobe to do the same as Anil steps into the CEO role. I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Anil the last few years and I leave confident in where he’ll take Adobe. We’re at a rare moment when technology changes not just what we build, but how companies are built, how work gets done and how value is created. Experiences are emerging that challenge our assumptions about how people and businesses use technology. Over the last few years, I’ve seen this market transformation from another perspective: as a Partner at Greylock and on the CEO Advisory Board at Lightspeed. Both gave me the opportunity to spend time with exceptional investors and founders pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Being close to this generation of entrepreneurs reminds me why I fell in love with technology and the limitless possibilities it opens up. Leaving Adobe is deeply emotional. Adobe has given me more than I could possibly capture here. I’m enormously grateful to Shantanu for his friendship and trust over the years, and to the extraordinary people at Adobe who dedicate themselves every day to our customers. Most of all, I’m grateful to the millions of creators, entrepreneurs, business professionals and companies who trust Adobe’s products every day. Serving them has been a great privilege of my career. When I first left Adobe, I wrote about hearing the siren call of change. I hear it again. I’ll spend time handing off my responsibilities, then I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started. Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.
Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to make today’s businesses more efficient, and to imagine entirely new ones.