---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000796343-26-000144"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ADBE"
cik: "0000796343"
company_name: "ADOBE INC."
filed_at: "2026-09-08T20:38:46+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-09-08T20:40:14.270289+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Adobe names Anil Chakravarthy as CEO, Narayen becomes Executive Chair Dec 1, 2026

## Summary
- Chakravarthy, President of Adobe's CX Orchestration business & field ops, becomes CEO and joins Board effective Dec 1, 2026.
- Shantanu Narayen retires as CEO, transitions to Executive Chair on Dec 1, 2026; will support Adobe's transformation.
- David Wadhwani steps down as President of Creativity & Productivity, effective Sept 27, 2026, remains senior advisor.
- Board unanimously appointed Chakravarthy after rigorous selection; he led CX business since Jan 2020 and scaled Adobe Experience Platform.
- Chakravarthy championed Workfront and Semrush acquisitions; prior CEO of Informatica; holds Ph.D from MIT.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000796343-26-000144
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ADBE
- cik: 0000796343
- company_name: ADOBE INC.
- filed_at: 2026-09-08T20:38:46+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/796343/000079634326000144/0000796343-26-000144-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/796343/000079634326000144/adbe-20260902.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000796343-26-000144
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000796343-26-000144.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000796343-26-000144.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  David Wadhwani changed role as President, Creativity & Productivity Business at ADOBE INC..
  - Action: step down
  - Role: President, Creativity & Productivity Business
  source text: 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.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/796343/000079634326000144/0000796343-26-000144-index.htm
- Executive change
  Shantanu Narayen changed role as Executive Chair at ADOBE INC..
  - Action: assume
  - Role: Executive Chair
  source text: 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.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/796343/000079634326000144/0000796343-26-000144-index.htm
- Executive change
  Anil Chakravarthy was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at ADOBE INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: 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”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/796343/000079634326000144/0000796343-26-000144-index.htm
- Executive change
  Anil Chakravarthy was appointed as member of the Board at ADOBE INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: member of the Board
  source text: 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”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/796343/000079634326000144/0000796343-26-000144-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.