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Shantanu Narayen
Photo: Jolie O'Dell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons22

Shantanu Narayen

Indian-American business executive (born 1963)

Shantanu Narayen (born May 27, 1963) is an Indian-American business executive who has been the chairman, president, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Adobe Inc. since December 2007.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Shantanu Narayen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born May 27, 1963.1

About

Before this, he was the company's president and chief operating officer since 2005.

Narayen is a member of The Business Council.

From Wikipedia’s article on Shantanu Narayen, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

  • AdobeChair Dec 5, 2017 to now14
  • PfizerBoard member 2013 to now15
  • AdobeBoard member Dec 1, 2007 to now16
  • AdobeChief executive officer Dec 1, 2007 to now16
  • AdobePresident Jan 3, 2006 to Oct 26, 202117
  • AdobeChief operating officer Jan 3, 2006 to Oct 5, 200717

Holdings

Stock this person has reported owning, from the forms officers and directors file with the SEC. See the biggest insider stakes.

Shares held

  • Adobe ADBE239,123 shares18$60.9M at $254.63Sep 18, 2026

As of each latest filing. The line shows shares held over time.

Recent filings

  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 638 shares at $251.76 of Adobe18
  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 9,978 shares at $251.02 of Adobe18
  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 17,595 shares at $250.19 of Adobe18
  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 10,313 shares at $249.17 of Adobe18
  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 7,168 shares at $248.14 of Adobe18
  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 3,430 shares at $247.36 of Adobe18
  • Sep 17, 2026Sold 1,378 shares at $246.09 of Adobe18
  • Sep 16, 2026Sold 930 shares at $253.64 of Adobe18
  • Sep 16, 2026Sold 11,495 shares at $253.06 of Adobe18
  • Sep 16, 2026Sold 20,716 shares at $252.03 of Adobe18
  • Sep 16, 2026Sold 33,001 shares at $251.03 of Adobe18
  • Sep 16, 2026Sold 8,358 shares at $250.22 of Adobe18
  • Jul 15, 2026Shares withheld for tax 1,416 shares at $224.56 of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Exercised options 2,857 shares of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Shares withheld for tax 980 shares at $224.56 of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Exercised options 1,977 shares of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Shares withheld for tax 626 shares at $224.56 of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Exercised options 1,264 shares of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Shares withheld for tax 1,090 shares at $224.56 of Adobe19
  • Jul 15, 2026Exercised options 2,200 shares of Adobe19
  • Apr 28, 2026Sold 10,341 shares at $244.78 of Adobe20
  • Apr 28, 2026Sold 13,237 shares at $243.89 of Adobe20
  • Apr 28, 2026Sold 51,422 shares at $243.19 of Adobe20
  • Apr 15, 2026Shares withheld for tax 1,416 shares at $244.66 of Adobe21
  • Apr 15, 2026Exercised options 2,857 shares of Adobe21

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedUniversity of California, Berkeley3
  • Date not recordedNorth-Eastern Hill University3
  • Date not recordedBowling Green State University3
  • Date not recordedOsmania University3
  • Date not recordedHaas School of Business3

Narayen grew up in Hyderabad, India in a Telugu Indian family. He is the second son of a mother who taught American literature and a father who ran a plastics company. Narayen attended Hyderabad Public School.

Narayen earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering from University College of Engineering, Osmania University in Hyderabad. He moved to the United States to complete his education, and received a master's degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University in 1986. In 1993, Narayen received an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.

From Wikipedia’s article on Shantanu Narayen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: businessperson, computer scientist.9

  • Since 2013Board member, Pfizer6
  • Since 2007Chief executive, Adobe4
  • Since 2007Board member, Adobe5
  • Since 2007Chief executive officer7 8

Early career

In 1986, Narayen joined a Silicon Valley startup called Measurex Automation Systems, which made computer control systems for automotive and electronics customers. Narayen then moved to Apple, where he was in senior management positions from 1989 to 1995.

After Apple, Narayen was director of desktop and collaboration products for Silicon Graphics. In 1996, he co-founded Pictra Inc., a company that pioneered the concept of digital photo sharing over the Internet.

Adobe

Narayen joined Adobe in 1998 as senior vice president of worldwide product development, a position he held through 2001. From 2001 to 2005, Narayen was executive vice president of worldwide products. In 2005, he was appointed president and chief operating officer.

Read more

CEO

In November 2007, Adobe announced that Bruce Chizen would step down as CEO effective December 1, 2007, to be replaced by Narayen.

As CEO, Narayen led the transformation of the company, moving its creative and digital document software franchises – which include flagship programs such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat/PDF – from the desktop to the cloud. In addition, during his tenure as CEO, Adobe has entered the digital experiences category, an expansion which began with the company’s acquisition of Omniture in 2009.

In 2018, Adobe exceeded $100 billion in market cap and joined the Fortune 500 for the first time. That same year, it also ranked No. 13 on Forbes’ Most Innovative Companies list.

In 2011, Barack Obama appointed Narayen as a member of his Management Advisory Board. He is the lead independent director on the board of directors for Pfizer, and vice chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Adobe was forced to abandon its $20 billion acquisition of Figma due to regulatory pressure, resulting in a $1 billion breakup fee paid by Adobe.

In 2023, Narayen's total compensation from Adobe was $44.9 million, up 42% from the previous year and representing a CEO-to-median worker pay ratio of 229-to-1. In 2026, Narayen announced that he would step down as CEO after a successor is named. Ultimately, Anil Chakravarthy, the president of Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations was announced to take over the president and CEO positions on December 1, 2026, with Narayen remaining as chairman.

From Wikipedia’s article on Shantanu Narayen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornMay 27, 1963, Hyderabad10
  • CitizenshipIndia11
  • ResidencePalo Alto12

Narayen lives in Palo Alto, California. He met his wife, Reni, while at Bowling Green State University in the mid 1980s; she has a doctorate in clinical psychology. They have two sons. Narayen once represented India in sailing at an Asian Regatta. He, along with Satya Nadella, has also invested in Major League Cricket to be hosted by the American Cricket Enterprises (ACE).

From Wikipedia’s article on Shantanu Narayen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Awards

  • 2019Padma Shri in trade and industry13

Sources

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    SEC EDGARAdobe, Chair
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    Wikidata and SEC EDGARPfizer, Board member
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    Wikidata and SEC EDGARAdobe, Board member
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