01—Abstract
Summary
Summary of the 8-K filed September 8, 2026. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.
Adobe (ADBE) announced in an 8-K filed September 8, 2026 that its Board has appointed Anil Chakravarthy, currently President of the Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, as President and Chief Executive Officer effective December 1, 2026.
Chakravarthy will also join the Board. Shantanu Narayen, Chair and CEO, will retire as CEO on the same date and become Executive Chair of the Board, where he will work with Chakravarthy on a smooth transition. The succession is planned rather than reactive: the board describes a rigorous, unanimous selection process led by Lead Independent Director Frank Calderoni.
Chakravarthy has been at Adobe since January 2020, has led scaling of Adobe Experience Platform and products such as CX Enterprise, GenStudio and Brand Visibility, and oversaw the Workfront and Semrush acquisitions. His prior CEO experience at Informatica is a relevant credential for investors assessing execution at the top. Investors should also note that David Wadhwani, President of the Creativity & Productivity business, will step down effective September 27, 2026, and remain as a senior advisor during a transition period.
This departure touches Adobe's core creative franchise, so near-term leadership continuity in that segment will be worth watching. The announcement comes ahead of the Q3 FY2026 earnings call on September 10, where management commentary on the transition and the business outlook is likely to be a focus.
02—Key points
Key Highlights
- Anil Chakravarthy named President and CEO effective December 1, 2026, and appointed to the Board.
- Shantanu Narayen steps down as CEO on the effective date and becomes Executive Chair of the Board.
- Selection overseen by a special committee led by Lead Independent Director Frank Calderoni; the Board describes the decision as unanimous.
- Chakravarthy's background includes leading Customer Experience Orchestration, field operations, and the Workfront and Semrush acquisitions, plus four years as CEO of Informatica.
- David Wadhwani, President of Creativity & Productivity, steps down effective September 27, 2026, and will serve as a senior advisor during a transition.
- Adobe's Q3 FY2026 earnings call on September 10, 2026 is the next near-term venue for management commentary on the leadership change.
- Company states it will file an amendment with the compensation-related information required by Item 5.02(c)(3) once determined; compensation terms are not yet disclosed.
03—Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Adobe changing CEOs now?
The filing and press release describe a planned succession. Narayen, who has led Adobe through its transformation to a subscription model, is moving to Executive Chair, and the Board says it ran a rigorous, unanimous selection process. Neither document cites a performance problem as the reason.
Who is Anil Chakravarthy?
He joined Adobe in January 2020 as EVP and GM of Digital Experience, took on worldwide field operations in 2020, and was promoted to President of Digital Experience and field operations in 2021. He currently leads the Customer Experience Orchestration business. Before Adobe, he was CEO of Informatica for four years and held executive roles at Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey.
Does Narayen remain involved after the transition?
Yes. Narayen becomes Executive Chair of the Board on December 1, 2026, and will work closely with Chakravarthy to support the transition and Adobe's ongoing transformation.
Why did David Wadhwani leave, and how does it affect the business?
The filing says Wadhwani notified the Company of his decision to step down as President of the Creativity & Productivity business, effective September 27, 2026, and will stay on as a senior advisor for a transition period. No reason is given. Because this segment houses Adobe's core creative products, investors will want to see who takes over this business and how it is managed.
What financial terms of the CEO appointment are disclosed?
None yet. The filing does not disclose Chakravarthy's compensation. Adobe says it will file an amendment with the Item 5.02(c)(3) compensation information within four business days after it is determined or becomes available.
04—Continue