Last mentioned: Mar 13, 2026
Resignation Announcement
Adobe confirms Narayen will step down once a successor is appointed by the board.
Transition Announcement
Adobe announces Narayen's plan to step down once a successor is named.
Transition Announcement
Announces plans to step down once a successor is appointed.
Creative Cloud Launch
Leads the controversial but successful pivot from software licenses to a SaaS subscription model.
Creative Cloud Launch
Leads the pivotal shift from perpetual software licenses to a SaaS subscription model.
Creative Cloud Launch
Completes the high-stakes pivot to a subscription-only SaaS model.
Appointed CEO
Takes the helm of Adobe, beginning an 18-year leadership run.
Appointed CEO
Takes the helm of the company as Chief Executive Officer.
Appointed CEO
Takes the helm of the company, succeeding Bruce Chizen.
President and COO
Promoted to lead Adobe's global operations and product research.
Joins Adobe
Narayen joins the company after previous roles at Apple and other tech firms.
Joins Adobe
Narayen joins Adobe after previous roles at Apple and other tech firms.
Joins Adobe
Narayen joins Adobe after a career at Apple and other tech firms.
Shantanu Narayen, the architect of Adobe's pivot to SaaS and its recent AI expansion, has announced plans to step down as CEO once a successor is named. Narayen will transition to Executive Chair of the Board, concluding a nearly two-decade leadership period that saw revenue grow from $1 billion to $25 billion.
Adobe has announced that long-time CEO Shantanu Narayen will step down after 18 years at the helm, triggering a search for a successor to lead the software giant into the generative AI era. Narayen will remain as CEO until a replacement is found, after which he will transition to the role of Chair of the Board.
Shantanu Narayen, the architect of Adobe’s pivot to the cloud, has announced his intention to step down as CEO after nearly two decades at the helm. The transition comes as Adobe aggressively integrates generative AI across its suite, marking a pivotal leadership change for the $25 billion creative software giant.