Adobe Names New CEO Anil Chakravarthy

Adobe said in a Sept. 3, 2026, press release that Anil Chakravarthy will become president and chief executive officer and join the Board of Directors effective Dec. 1, 2026. Shantanu Narayen, who has served as CEO since 2007, will transition to executive chair on the same date. The leadership change highlights an intensified AI focus as the company prepares to report Q3 FY2026 results on Sept. 10, 2026.

Leadership and Governance

Adobe’s Board of Directors approved the succession plan on Sept. 3, 2026, naming Chakravarthy CEO and board member effective Dec. 1. Narayen will become executive chair and work closely with Chakravarthy to ensure a smooth transition. Narayen said, "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."

Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 to lead its digital-experience business. He later took on responsibility for customer interactions, global sales, and customer-support teams. He currently heads Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations. His promotion makes him the fourth CEO in Adobe’s 43-year history and the second India-born chief executive after Narayen, who joined Adobe in 1998 and has served as CEO since 2007. Narayen had disclosed plans earlier in 2026 to step down.

AI Strategy and Competition

Chakravarthy has led the development of several of Adobe’s AI products and orchestrated customer-experience initiatives across the portfolio. His appointment places an AI-focused insider at the helm to confront new generative-AI rivals and defend Adobe’s design-software dominance. This leadership change comes amid a multiyear period of weaker share performance, increasing investor scrutiny of Adobe’s AI execution.

Near-Term Financial Events

Adobe announced on Aug. 31, 2026, that it will report Q3 FY2026 results on Sept. 10, with the earnings release and conference call streamed on its Investor Relations site. Investors are expected to focus on the company’s AI strategy, adoption of AI-powered products, and the growth outlook under the incoming CEO.

In its Q2 FY2026 earnings call, Adobe outlined FY2026 targets including total annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of 10.2% year-over-year, GAAP earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $17.90–$18.00, and non-GAAP EPS guidance of $24.35–$24.45. These targets are based on a non-GAAP operating margin near 45% and GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates near 22.5% and 18%, respectively. The ARR target reflects the addition of the Semrush business and a strategic push to accelerate monthly active-user freemium growth while deferring planned Creative Cloud price optimizations.

The Sept. 10 earnings report will test whether the leadership continuity and AI emphasis translate into clearer execution and growth prospects. Chakravarthy’s board membership and Narayen’s executive chair role become effective in early December.