Microsoft’s Satya Nadella hails Shantanu Narayen's run as "legendary" as he exits Adobe CEO role

Shantanu Narayen

• Shantanu Narayen steps down as Adobe CEO after 18 years.
• He led Adobe's shift to cloud services and global expansion.
• Satya Nadella praised Narayen's leadership and industry impact.

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Shantanu Narayen is stepping down as chief executive of Adobe after 18 years leading the software giant, bringing to a close one of the longest and most influential leadership runs in the modern tech industry.

During his tenure, Narayen oversaw Adobe’s transformation from a traditional software company into a cloud-driven powerhouse serving creators, marketers and businesses worldwide. Under his leadership, the company expanded its portfolio across creative tools, digital media and enterprise marketing platforms.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was among the industry leaders who publicly acknowledged Narayen’s impact. In a post on X, Nadella congratulated him on what he called a “legendary run” at Adobe.

“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote.

He also highlighted Narayen’s approach to leadership and the way he engaged with the creative community.

“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry,” he added.

Narayen’s leadership is widely credited with guiding Adobe through a major shift toward subscription-based cloud services, including the expansion of Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud, which reshaped the company’s business model and cemented its position at the centre of the digital content ecosystem.

His departure marks the end of an era for Adobe, which grew into one of the world’s most influential software companies during his time at the helm.