Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Development
    • IT Management
    • Networking

    Sudden Adobe CEO Departure Raises Eyebrows

    By
    Darryl K. Taft
    -
    November 14, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Mike Soucie was surprised when he heard Bruce Chizen was no longer CEO of Adobe Systems.

      The abruptness of the Nov. 12 announcement surprised him, as did the fact that change was occurring at a time when things were going so well for Adobe.

      That said, Soucie, CEO of Electric Rain, an Adobe partner based in Boulder, Colo., praised Adobes decision to replace Chizen with Shantanu Narayen, who was promoted from his president and chief operating officer position.

      “I was a bit shocked at this announcement,” Soucie said. “Not that he is stepping down, but more of the abruptness of the announcement. If this was planned for a while due to a retirement decision, then I would have expected this type of announcement to be made during a planned analyst or financial call.”

      However, Soucie said, Chizen is leaving the company “on a high note, as Adobe is in a very strong position for continued success and growth.”

      To read about Adobe readying new servers, services and tools click here.

      In statements announcing the leadership change, neither Chizen nor Adobe board members addressed the reason for Chizens departure, only that his 14-year tenure with the company was a good one.

      “Bruce Chizens vision has helped transform Adobe from a company that was known mainly for its popular design products into one of the largest and most diversified software companies in the world,” Chuck Geschke and John Warnock, Adobes board chairmen and the companys co-founders, said in a joint statement. “We thank him for his outstanding leadership and contributions to Adobes success during his entire 14 years at Adobe and the past seven as CEO.”

      Chizen, who will remain on the board through the end of his term in the spring of 2008 and will stay an advisory position through the end of the next year fiscal year, said his decision to step down was a personal one.

      “For me personally, the time is right for a transfer of leadership and I look forward to supporting Shantanu as he takes on his new responsibilities,” he said.

      “I was a bit surprised by the timing, but apparently his exit had been in the works for a while,” said Peter OKelly, an analyst with The Burton Group.

      OKelly said Adobe will pretty much stay on course.

      “Chizen had a unique perspective and attitude; I expect there will be some top-down cultural changes after the transition,” he said.

      Meanwhile, OKelly said he has the impression that not even Chizen is sure what his next steps in the industry, if any, will be. “But I doubt hes ready to fully retire at 52,” OKelly said.

      Adobe is scheduled to announce its fourth-quarter earnings Dec. 17, and expects to achieve revenue results in the high-end of the target range of $860 million and $890 million, the company said. Officials expect annual revenue growth for fiscal year 2008 to be about 13 percent.

      Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis in programming environments and developer tools.

      Darryl K. Taft
      Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×