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Adobe to make Anil Chakravarthy CEO on Dec. 1, 2026

Adobe sets December 1, 2026 for its CEO transition, elevating Anil Chakravarthy while Shantanu Narayen becomes Executive Chair and another key president steps down.

Filing Impact
(Very High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ADOBE INC. (ADBE) announced a planned leadership transition with Anil Chakravarthy, currently President of the Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a Board member effective December 1, 2026. On that date, current Chair and CEO Shantanu Narayen will retire from the CEO role and become Executive Chair of the Board. The Board determined these appointments independently of any arrangements with other persons and confirmed there are no family relationships or related-party transactions requiring disclosure. Separately, David Wadhwani will step down as President, Creativity & Productivity Business effective September 27, 2026, and will remain as a senior advisor for a transition period. Adobe furnished a press release dated September 3, 2026 describing these leadership changes.

Positive

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Negative

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Filing Explained

This filing leaves the executive-compensation disclosure incomplete: Adobe says it will provide the required information in an amendment within four business days after that information is determined or becomes available.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
CEO transition effective date December 1, 2026 Date when Anil Chakravarthy becomes President and CEO and joins the Board; Shantanu Narayen becomes Executive Chair
Board appointment date September 2, 2026 Date Adobe’s Board appointed Anil Chakravarthy to become President and CEO and a Board member
Wadhwani step-down effective date September 27, 2026 Effective date for David Wadhwani stepping down as President, Creativity & Productivity Business
Press release date September 3, 2026 Date of the press release announcing the CEO transition and leadership changes
Exhibit 99.1 1 press release Press release dated September 3, 2026 furnished as Exhibit 99.1
Executive Chair financial
"will retire as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and assume the position of Executive Chair of the Board"
An executive chair is the board chairperson who also takes an active, hands-on role in company management, typically working closely with the CEO and senior team to shape strategy and major decisions. For investors it matters because this blend of oversight and operational power can accelerate strategic moves and provide steady leadership—like a coach who also calls plays—but it can also concentrate authority and create governance or succession risks if too much depends on one person.
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
"Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. On September 3, 2026, the Company issued a press release"
Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.
Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K regulatory
"no transactions involving either Mr. Chakravarthy or Mr. Narayen that are reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K"
Customer Experience Orchestration technical
"the Company’s current President, Customer Experience Orchestration Business, as the Company’s President"
Customer experience orchestration is the ongoing process of coordinating a customer’s interactions across channels and touchpoints so each step feels consistent and timely — like an air traffic controller routing flights to avoid delays and confusion. For investors, it matters because better coordination typically raises sales, lowers marketing and support costs, and improves customer loyalty, making revenue more predictable and growth easier to scale.
agentic software technical
"drive Adobe's leadership in the next era of agentic software for creativity, productivity and customer experience"
Software that can act on its own to pursue goals, make decisions, learn from experience, and interact with other systems without continuous human instructions. Think of it like a digital assistant that not only follows commands but takes initiative—researching, deciding, and executing tasks across multiple steps. Investors care because agentic software can change how companies operate, scale, and compete, while also affecting costs, reliability, compliance, and potential liability.

FAQ

What CEO change did Adobe (ADBE) announce in this 8-K?
Adobe announced that Anil Chakravarthy will become President and Chief Executive Officer and join the Board effective December 1, 2026, while Shantanu Narayen will retire as CEO on that date and transition to the role of Executive Chair of the Board.

What role will Shantanu Narayen have at Adobe (ADBE) after December 1, 2026?
Effective December 1, 2026, Shantanu Narayen will retire as Chief Executive Officer and become Executive Chair of the Board, working closely with Anil Chakravarthy to help ensure a smooth leadership transition and support Adobe’s ongoing transformation.

What is changing for Anil Chakravarthy at Adobe (ADBE)?
On September 2, 2026, Adobe’s Board appointed Anil Chakravarthy, then President of the Customer Experience Orchestration business, to become President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board effective December 1, 2026.

What did Adobe (ADBE) disclose about David Wadhwani in this filing?
Adobe disclosed that on September 2, 2026, David Wadhwani decided to step down as President, Creativity & Productivity Business, effective September 27, 2026. He will remain with the company as a senior advisor for a transition period.

How and when did Adobe (ADBE) publicly communicate the CEO transition?
Adobe issued a press release dated September 3, 2026 announcing Anil Chakravarthy’s appointment as President and CEO, Shantanu Narayen’s transition to Executive Chair, and related details. This press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 and furnished under Regulation FD Disclosure.

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0000796343false00007963432026-07-142026-07-14


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): September 2, 2026
ADOBE INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware000-1517577-0019522
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

345 Park Avenue
San Jose, California 95110-2704
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 536-6000

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each ClassTrading SymbolName of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per shareADBENASDAQ Global Select Market
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company      ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐




Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On September 2, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Adobe Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Anil Chakravarthy, the Company’s current President, Customer Experience Orchestration Business, as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, effective December 1, 2026 (the “Effective Date”). Upon the Effective Date, Shantanu Narayen, the Company’s current Chair and Chief Executive Officer, will retire as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and assume the position of Executive Chair of the Board.
Mr. Chakravarthy’s and Mr. Narayen’s biographies appear in the Company’s 2026 proxy statement filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026, and are incorporated by reference herein.
The appointment of Mr. Chakravarthy and Mr. Narayen to their respective positions was not pursuant to any arrangement or understanding with respect to any other person. There are no family relationships between either Mr. Chakravarthy or Mr. Narayen and any director or executive officer of the Company, and there are no transactions involving either Mr. Chakravarthy or Mr. Narayen that are reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. The Company intends to file an amendment to this filing containing the information called for by Item 5.02(c)(3) of Form 8-K within four business days after the information is determined or becomes available.
On September 2, 2026, David Wadhwani notified the Company of his decision to step down from his position as President, Creativity & Productivity Business, effective September 27, 2026. Mr. Wadhwani will remain with the Company as a senior advisor for a transition period.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 3, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Chakravarthy as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the retirement of Mr. Narayen as Chief Executive Officer and his appointment as Executive Chair of the Board. A copy of this press release is furnished with this Current Report as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.
The information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of such section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of the general incorporation language of such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

2

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit NumberExhibit Description
99.1
Press Release dated September 3, 2026
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
3

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
ADOBE INC.
 Date: September 8, 2026
By:
/s/ LOUISE PENTLAND
Louise Pentland
Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Legal and Government Relations

4
EXHIBIT 99.1

Adobe Announces Anil Chakravarthy to Become President and CEO
and Shantanu Narayen to Become Executive Chair on December 1, 2026

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) — Adobe's Board of Directors today announced that Anil Chakravarthy, president of Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, will become Adobe’s next president and chief executive officer and join the Board of Directors effective December 1, 2026. Shantanu Narayen will transition to executive chair and work closely with Chakravarthy to ensure a smooth transition and support Adobe’s ongoing transformation.

“Adobe’s opportunity ahead is limitless with our track record in creating new market categories and world-class products. Anil is an experienced transformational leader who leads with values, integrity and a deep knowledge of our business. He has a proven record of building and delivering category-defining products that serve our broad range of customers,” said Narayen. “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.”

Frank Calderoni, Lead Independent Director of Adobe, who led the special committee overseeing the selection process said, “The Board has unanimously determined that Anil is the right leader for Adobe’s next chapter of growth. Over the last six and a half years, he has transformed and expanded Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations through innovation-led growth, developing and retaining talent and carrying forward Adobe's culture and values. We conducted a rigorous selection process resulting in the appointment of an outstanding CEO.”

Chakravarthy said, “I am deeply honored to have been chosen to lead Adobe during this pivotal moment. I'm energized by the opportunity to fuel growth and drive Adobe's leadership in the next era of agentic software for creativity, productivity and customer experience. Adobe has a history of building the future — not just through our technology, but through our people and our commitment to customers. Thanks to Shantanu's exceptional leadership in transforming Adobe's business model over the decades, we are well positioned to achieve Adobe's next chapter of growth. I want to thank the Board for the confidence they've placed in me. I look forward to working closely with our employees, Shantanu and the Board of Directors to continue serving our customers and transforming Adobe in the era of AI.”

Chakravarthy joined Adobe in January 2020 as executive vice president and general manager leading the Digital Experience business. In September 2020, he took on the additional responsibility of leading Adobe’s worldwide field operations serving enterprise customers with the full portfolio of Adobe’s products including creativity and productivity. In December 2021, he was promoted to president of Digital Experience and worldwide field operations.

Under Chakravarthy’s leadership, Adobe has become an industry leader in Customer Experience Orchestration solutions. He has led the development of market-leading products including Adobe CX Enterprise, GenStudio and Brand Visibility, which are category-defining products using the power of AI to deliver breakthrough customer experiences. He has been instrumental in scaling Adobe Experience Platform and the introduction of new product innovations like CX Enterprise Coworker. He successfully championed the acquisitions and integration of Workfront and Semrush.

Prior to his current role, Chakravarthy served as CEO for four years at Informatica, a global leader in enterprise cloud data management. He originally joined Informatica in 2013 as executive vice president. Before joining Informatica, Chakravarthy acquired broad experience in the technology industry through executive roles at Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey & Company. Chakravarthy received a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Varanasi, India and a Masters of Science and Ph.D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Adobe Q3 FY2026 Earnings Call, September 10
Adobe looks forward to hosting its Q3 FY2026 Earnings call on Thursday, September 10. The conference call will be streamed lived on the Adobe Investor Relations Site. Following the call, a recording and related materials will be available on the site.

About Adobe





Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) empowers everyone to create through industry-leading platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.

© 2026 Adobe. All rights reserved. Adobe and the Adobe logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts
Public relations contact
Ashley Levine
adobepr@adobe.com






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