4 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Adobe has named Indian-origin technology executive Anil Chakravarthy as its next president and chief executive officer, handing him the task of leading the software giant through a major transformation driven by artificial intelligence.
Chakravarthy will take over from longtime CEO Shantanu Narayen on December 1, 2026. Narayen, who has led Adobe for nearly two decades, will become executive chair and work with Chakravarthy during the transition.
Chakravarthy to Lead Adobe’s AI Era
The appointment comes at a critical point for Adobe as generative and agentic AI reshape the software industry.
Chakravarthy currently leads Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations. During his tenure, he has overseen the development and expansion of AI-focused products including GenStudio and Adobe CX Enterprise.
Adobe said Chakravarthy will focus on driving growth and strengthening the company’s leadership in the next era of agentic software for creativity, productivity and customer experience.
From Informatica CEO to Adobe Chief
Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 as executive vice president and general manager of its Digital Experience business.
Before joining Adobe, he served as CEO of Informatica for four years, having joined the enterprise cloud-data company in 2013. He has also held executive roles at Symantec and VeriSign, along with experience at McKinsey & Company.
His background in enterprise software and cloud data management is expected to be particularly relevant as Adobe expands its AI capabilities.
A Strong India Connection at Adobe
Chakravarthy’s appointment continues Adobe’s strong connection with Indian technology leadership.
He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Varanasi, followed by a master’s degree and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He now follows Narayen, another Indian-born technology leader, at the top of one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent software companies.
Narayen Moves to Executive Chair
Narayen’s move marks the end of a long tenure as Adobe’s chief executive.
He became CEO in 2007 and oversaw Adobe’s transformation from a company primarily known for packaged creative software into a major subscription-based cloud software business.
Under his leadership, Adobe also expanded into digital marketing and customer-experience software while building a broad portfolio of AI-powered products.
AI Competition Intensifies
Chakravarthy takes charge as Adobe faces growing competition from companies developing AI-native creative and design tools.
Rivals such as Figma and Canva are putting pressure on Adobe’s traditional creative-software business, while rapid advances in generative AI are changing how customers create images, videos, documents and other digital content.
The challenge for the new CEO will be to make Adobe’s AI products a source of sustained growth without undermining the subscription businesses that remain central to the company.
Chakravarthy Has Already Led AI Initiatives
The incoming CEO is not new to Adobe’s AI strategy.
The company credited him with helping develop products such as Adobe GenStudio, which uses AI to help enterprises create and manage marketing content, and with scaling Adobe Experience Platform.
His experience means the leadership transition is likely to involve continuity in Adobe’s push toward AI rather than a complete strategic reset.
Investor Concerns Add Pressure
The leadership change comes as Adobe’s shares have faced pressure from investor concerns about the impact of AI on traditional software businesses.
According to Reuters, Adobe’s stock had fallen about 18% in 2026, following a 21% decline in 2025. Shares also slipped after the CEO announcement.
At the same time, Adobe has reported strong demand for its AI-powered products and raised its annual profit forecast earlier in the year, highlighting the tension between AI-related risks and growth opportunities.
A Pivotal Leadership Transition
Chakravarthy’s appointment represents a carefully timed succession at Adobe.
Rather than bringing in an external leader, the board has selected a senior executive with extensive knowledge of Adobe’s products, customers and AI initiatives.
That familiarity could help the company move quickly as competition accelerates across creative, productivity and enterprise software.
Adobe’s AI Bet
Adobe has increasingly positioned AI as central to its future.
The company has embedded AI across its creative and customer-experience platforms and is now moving toward agentic AI, in which software can carry out more complex tasks and workflows on behalf of users.
Chakravarthy’s promotion signals that this transformation will remain a major priority under the company’s next generation of leadership.
What Happens Next
Chakravarthy will formally become president and CEO on December 1, when Narayen moves into the executive-chair role.
The transition comes as Adobe prepares to defend its position in a rapidly changing software market, making the new CEO’s ability to turn AI investment into sustainable growth a key focus for investors and customers alike.