Adobe Aligns Mobile and Platform Operations

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the alignment of the company’s mobile and platform operations as it moves toward an integrated technology platform and runtime environment for personal computers (PCs), mobile handsets and consumer devices. In support of this strategy, the Mobile and Devices Business Unit (MDBU) is joining Adobe’s Experience and Technology group, led by Chief Technology Officer Kevin Lynch.

“As the proliferation of digital content continues to accelerate, customers worldwide are looking to Adobe for a platform that enables the creation of rich, engaging experiences across a variety of media and devices,” said Shantanu Narayen, Adobe president and CEO. “Key to delivering a well-integrated technology platform is engineering our desktop and device technologies more closely together. Bringing our mobile and platform businesses together under the leadership of CTO Kevin Lynch better positions us to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse customer base.”

Gary Kovacs, vice president of product management and marketing for Adobe’s MDBU, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of the business unit, reporting to Kevin Lynch, effective May 1. Kovacs takes over for senior vice president (SVP) Al Ramadan, who has decided to leave Adobe effective April 30 after nearly 10 years with Adobe and Macromedia.

Kovacs has been with the company since 2003, initially serving as Macromedia’s vice president of product marketing. Previously he was president of Zi Corporation, a global mobile communications company. Prior to that, he was with IBM for more than nine years in a variety of senior leadership roles across products and sales.

Separately, the company also announced that Rob Tarkoff, SVP of Corporate Development, has been appointed SVP of Adobe’s Business Productivity Business Unit (BPBU) effective May 1. Tarkoff replaces SVP David Mendels, who is leaving the company after a combined total of 16 years with Adobe and Macromedia.

Tarkoff joined Adobe in 2007. He has played a key role in architecting Adobe’s strategic roadmap and defining opportunities for business growth. Prior to Adobe, he held senior management roles with EMC, including SVP of Global Alliances and Outsourcing, SVP and GM of EMC Captiva Software, and EVP and Chief Strategy Officer of Documentum, Inc.

Paul Weiskopf, Adobe vice president of strategy, mergers & acquisitions and investments, succeeds Tarkoff as SVP of Corporate Development. Weiskopf has been with Adobe since 2005 working closely with the management team on long-term investment strategies and playing a key role in the acquisitions of Macromedia, Scene 7 and Virtual Ubiquity. Previously, he was a vice president of strategy and corporate development at Hewlett Packard.

“Adobe’s opportunities are enormous,” said Narayen. “We are performing exceptionally well against our strategy and the fundamental market forces driving our long-term outlook are as strong as ever. I’m thrilled with the strength, caliber and collective vision of the management team we have in place to take the company to the next level.”