Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen is stepping down after 18 years, transitioning to Chair of the Board. His tenure saw Adobe evolve from boxed software to a subscription giant, generating over $25 billion annually. The announcement coincided with a strong Q1 earnings report, exceeding estimates, with AI-first product revenue tripling. A successor search is underway.

Adobe said that its long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen, will step down after nearly two decades in the role, triggering a leadership search at one of the world's most influential software companies.

Adobe's stock experienced a drop following the announcement that CEO Shantanu Narayen will be stepping down from his position after an 18-year tenure.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella lauded Adobe's Shantanu Narayen's "legendary run" as he announced his departure after 18 years. Nadella, Narayen's schoolmate, highlighted Adobe's growth and its impact on creators and businesses under his leadership. Narayen will transition from CEO but remain as Chair of the Board.

Shantanu Narayen joined Adobe in 1998 and became CEO in 2007. In 2017, he was appointed as the company’s chairman of the board.

A profile of Indian-origin Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen details his career, net worth, and family, highlighting his transformation of Adobe from a boxed-software maker to a cloud subscription powerhouse.