{"id":122606,"date":"2026-03-14T00:29:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/899302989"},"modified":"2026-03-14T00:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:29:18","slug":"adobe-ceo-shantanu-narayen-steps-down-after-18-years-tech-ceos-react-call-him-a-deeply-respected-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/14\/adobe-ceo-shantanu-narayen-steps-down-after-18-years-tech-ceos-react-call-him-a-deeply-respected-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen Steps Down After 18 Years: Tech CEOs React, Call Him A ‘Deeply Respected Leader’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shantanu Narayen, one of Silicon Valley’s longest-serving technology chiefs, announced that he will step down as CEO of Adobe after 18 years in the role. The announcement, made alongside the company’s first-quarter earnings results, sent Adobe shares tumbling more than 7 percent in after-hours trading.<\/p>\n

Narayen will remain as CEO until a successor is appointed, after which he will stay on as Chair of the Board. The Board has appointed Frank Calderoni, Lead Independent Director, to chair a special committee that will consider both internal and external candidates.<\/p>\n

In a memo to employees, Narayen described the transition as a moment of reflection rather than a farewell. “This is not a goodbye by any means,” he wrote, adding that what drew him to Adobe 28 years ago was “our leadership in creating new market categories, world-class products, a relentless desire to innovate.”<\/p>\n

Narayen spent 18 years at Adobe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Narayen joined Adobe in 1998 and became CEO in 2007, overseeing one of the most significant strategic shifts in the software industry when Adobe moved from selling packaged software to a cloud-based subscription model. On his watch, Adobe’s stock jumped more than sixfold, while the S&P 500 rose approximately 350 percent over the same period.<\/p>\n

Adobe reported Q1 FY2026 earnings per share of $6.06, beating analyst estimates of $5.87, on revenue of $6.4 billion – topping expectations of $6.28 billion, with sales up 12.1 percent year over year. Despite the strong numbers, the announcement arrives amid deep skepticism about Adobe’s ability to thrive in the AI era.<\/p>\n

Industry reaction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Figma co-founder and CEO Dylan Field praised Narayen on X, calling him “thoughtful, kind and relentless in pursuit of Adobe’s vision.” Even Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on a legendary run at Adobe. <\/p>\n

<!– Published on: Friday, March 13, 2026, 10:20 AM IST<\/span> –> <!– <\/p>\n

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