What Happened to Anil Chakravarthy?
Anil Chakravarthy, a seasoned technology executive with a strong background in enterprise software and cloud data management, is set to become Adobe's next President and CEO on December 1, 2026. He joined Adobe in January 2020, leading the Digital Experience business and later Customer Experience Orchestration, and will now guide the company through an era of intensifying AI competition, succeeding long-time CEO Shantanu Narayen.
Quick Answer
Anil Chakravarthy, currently President of Adobe's Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, will assume the role of President and CEO of Adobe on December 1, 2026. He will succeed Shantanu Narayen, who will transition to Executive Chair. Chakravarthy's appointment, announced on September 3, 2026, comes as Adobe navigates a competitive landscape driven by AI, with a strategic focus on strengthening its position in AI-driven creativity, productivity, and customer experience software.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Begins Career at McKinsey & Company
After completing his Ph.D. from MIT, Anil Chakravarthy starts his professional journey at McKinsey & Company, eventually becoming an Engagement Manager.
Joins Symantec
Chakravarthy begins a nearly decade-long tenure at Symantec, holding various leadership roles in enterprise security and operations management.
Joins Informatica as EVP and Chief Product Officer
Chakravarthy moves to Informatica, a global leader in enterprise cloud data management, initially as Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer.
Appointed CEO of Informatica
He is promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Informatica, a role he holds for six years, leading the company's successful transformation to cloud and subscription services.
Joins Adobe as EVP and GM, Digital Experience Business
Anil Chakravarthy joins Adobe as Executive Vice President and General Manager, leading the Digital Experience business.
Assumes Responsibility for Worldwide Field Operations
His role at Adobe expands to include leadership of worldwide field operations, serving enterprise customers across Adobe's product portfolio.
Promoted to President, Digital Experience and Worldwide Field Operations
Chakravarthy is elevated to President of Digital Experience and worldwide field operations, further solidifying his leadership within Adobe.
Shantanu Narayen Announces Plans to Step Down as CEO
Long-time Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen publicly signals his intention to step down, initiating a formal succession process.
Named Adobe's Next President and CEO
Adobe's Board of Directors announces Anil Chakravarthy as the successor to Shantanu Narayen, effective December 1, 2026. Narayen will transition to Executive Chair.
David Wadhwani Announces Departure from Adobe
Following Chakravarthy's CEO appointment, David Wadhwani, another key executive and perceived CEO candidate, announces his departure from Adobe.
Assumes Role of Adobe President and CEO
Anil Chakravarthy officially takes over as President and Chief Executive Officer of Adobe, joining the Board of Directors.
Follow this story
Get an email when this timeline gets a major update.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Anil Chakravarthy's journey to the helm of Adobe culminates in his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1, 2026. This significant executive transition sees him succeeding Shantanu Narayen, who has led Adobe for over 18 years and will move into the role of Executive Chair. Chakravarthy's selection follows a structured leadership succession process initiated when Narayen announced his plans to step down in March 2026.
Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 as Executive Vice President and General Manager, initially leading the Digital Experience business. His responsibilities expanded in September 2020 to include worldwide field operations, serving enterprise customers across Adobe's product portfolio. By December 2021, he was promoted to President of Digital Experience and worldwide field operations, a role that evolved into leading Adobe's Customer Experience Orchestration business. Under his leadership, this division has become a key strategic focus for Adobe, particularly in leveraging AI for personalized customer experiences.
The decision to appoint Chakravarthy, an internal candidate, was made after a rigorous search process by Adobe's board. His extensive experience prior to Adobe includes serving as CEO of Informatica from 2015 to 2020, where he successfully transformed the company to cloud and subscription services. He also held senior leadership roles at Symantec, VeriSign, and began his career at McKinsey & Company. This diverse background in product innovation, enterprise software, and cloud data management positioned him as a strong candidate to lead Adobe's next phase of growth.
The transition comes at a pivotal time for Adobe, as the company faces intensifying competition from AI rivals across its core creative and productivity software businesses. The announcement on September 3, 2026, saw a slight dip in Adobe's stock, partly due to the market's surprise that another internal contender, David Wadhwani (who subsequently announced his departure), was not chosen. However, Chakravarthy has expressed enthusiasm for driving Adobe's leadership in the 'next era of agentic software' and integrating AI more deeply across its offerings.
As of September 6, 2026, Anil Chakravarthy is actively serving as President of Adobe's Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, preparing for his official transition to President and CEO on December 1, 2026. His mandate will be to steer Adobe through the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving AI landscape, ensuring the company maintains its market leadership in digital experiences and creative tools.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Anil Chakravarthy made different choices?