MAM
Shivictry PR rolls out bi-annual appraisals to fuel faster growth and reward rising talent
MUMBAI: Shivictry PR has rewritten the rules of workplace recognition, becoming one of the few firms in the Indian communications industry to adopt a bi-annual appraisal cycle. The move is part of a broader talent-first approach introduced by founder & director Himanshu Kothari, aimed at championing employee growth with greater frequency, transparency, and impact.
Beginning this year, the Delhi-based agency will conduct performance evaluations every six months—breaking away from the traditional once-a-year format followed across most corporate setups. The updated system includes feedback sessions, goal reviews, skill assessments, and compensation revisions—rolled into a twice-a-year rhythm that’s geared for agility.
“We believe that exceptional talent deserves timely acknowledgment”, said Kothari. “By moving to a six-month appraisal cycle, we’re not only recognising performance more frequently, but we’re also creating new opportunities for learning, mentorship, and career advancement. Our people are our greatest asset, and this initiative is a step forward in empowering them to reach their full potential”.
The new cycle will include personalised development plans tailored to each team member’s growth trajectory, aligning professional aspirations with business outcomes. The shift is also expected to help managers act on underperformance more proactively while rewarding creativity and consistency faster—giving high-potential employees more reason to stay, learn, and lead.
With a portfolio packed with strategic brand communication wins and fast-growing client rosters, Shivictry PR has become a fixture among top Indian PR agencies. Much of that growth, the company maintains, has been driven by its team-first ethos—now reinforced by the bi-annual review model.
In a competitive industry where churn rates and burnout are all too common, Shivictry PR’s move sends a strong signal: employee feedback shouldn’t have to wait for an anniversary. Sometimes, half a year is more than enough to recognise the value someone brings to the table.
Brands
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
