A Sudden Changing Of The Guard, At Apple, Adobe, Netflix And Disney

BusinessMediaA Sudden Changing Of The Guard, At Apple, Adobe, Netflix And DisneyByDavid Bloom,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I’m an LA-based columnist & consultant focused on tech & entertainmentFollow AuthorApr 22, 2026, 11:56am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.(Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesHow is it that seemingly half the long-time CEOs in Big Tech got old, or at least retired, all of a sudden? Tim Cook’s announcement Tuesday that he’s stepping aside as Apple CEO after 15 years, while remaining executive chairman, had been foreshadowed for a while, but somehow was still a bit of a surprise when it happened. In fact, successor John Ternus has been rumored successor-in-waiting for at least the past year, with appropriately prominent roles at big confabs such as the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The same day as Cook’s announcement, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen strode onto a Las Vegas stage for what likely will be his last company summit after 18 years running the software giant. Amid a so-so earnings call a few weeks back, Narayen said he would step down as CEO as soon as a replacement was found, though he would remain as chairman. “We’re living at a true inflection point, a moment where creativity and marketing are entering the era of AI,” Narayen said. “We’re getting away from the fear of the blank page.” As creative workflows are further democratized, the velocity of content creation will accelerate, requiring high quality, faster, and at greater scale than ever, with a need for creative differentiation to stand out, Narayen went on. In fact, it could have been a description of the challenges facing Adobe and many other companies in tech and entertainment, a source of pressure that doubtless contributed to his plan to step aside. Narayen used his moment be...