Adobe’s Chizen Resigns to Take Break

SAN JOSE, CA—Bruce Chizen has stepped down as CEO of Adobe Systems, months after the embattled leader was sharply criticized for the company’s decision to implement a “Send to FedEx/Kinko’s” button in its Acrobat and Reader products.

President and COO Shantanu Narayen will replace Chizen, who led Adobe for seven years, on December 1.

While the “Send to...” button was eventually taken out of all versions that did not go to FedEx/Kinko’s customers, Adobe still suffered a black eye from what some customers in the printing industry viewed as a lack of loyalty. Still, Chizen told the Associated Press that he wasn’t “leaving under any cloud,” and that he was taking a much-needed break.

The company flourished under Chizen, however, and its third quarter profit more than doubled on a 41 percent revenue increase.