Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Thursday commended outgoing Adobe Chief Executive Officer Shantanu Narayen, who is stepping down after leading the company for 18 years. KTR said that qualities such as humility and empathy define strong leadership, and described Narayen as someone who embodies those values.

In a post on X, KTR congratulated Narayen on his long tenure at Adobe and expressed admiration for his continued affection for India, particularly the city of Hyderabad. He noted that Narayen’s leadership journey had been remarkable and wished him success in the next phase of his career. Adobe confirmed in an official statement that Narayen will step down as CEO once a successor is appointed, though he will continue to serve as Chair of the company. The announcement was made alongside the company’s financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026, which ended on February 27, 2026. Following the news, Adobe shares listed on the Nasdaq Composite dropped by about seven percent in extended trading.

According to a filing with Nasdaq, Narayen decided to transition from the CEO role after nearly two decades of leadership. The company also stated that its Board of Directors has begun the process of selecting a successor and has established a special committee to manage the search. The filing noted that Frank Calderoni, Adobe’s Lead Independent Director, will chair the committee responsible for evaluating both internal and external candidates.

Narayen joined Adobe in 1988 as vice president and general manager and later became CEO in 2007. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also congratulated Narayen on his leadership, describing his tenure as remarkable. Nadella said Narayen helped build Adobe into one of the world’s most influential software companies and expanded opportunities for creators, businesses, and entrepreneurs. He also praised Narayen’s empathetic approach to leadership and thanked him for his friendship and mentorship.

During Narayen’s leadership, Adobe shifted its business model from traditional software licensing to subscription-based services through the Creative Cloud platform. Under his guidance, the company significantly broadened its digital solutions portfolio and is now focusing on expanding its presence in generative artificial intelligence.