Warnock and Geschke started Adobe in 1982, and since then the company has become an industry leader in the development of software tools used by professionals in graphic design, illustration, publishing, Web technology and other media. Their product portfolio includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign, GoLive, Premiere, and other tools. The company generates annual revenues of more than US$1 billion, and employs more than 2,600 people worldwide.
Before Warnock started Adobe, he was principal scientist at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), the same organization often credited with planting the seeds of inspiration that led to the creation of the Macintosh. Warnock holds six patents, and is credited with the invention of PostScript, the programming language used to display graphics and text that have become indispensable to graphic designers, typographers, artists and other professionals who utilize visual media.
Warnock said that with Adobe’s current management, now is a good time to step down.
“I’ve had a wonderful career at Adobe and I am proud of the products and technology the people of Adobe have created,” said Warnock. “I know they will continue to do amazing things in the future.”
Warnock may be retiring, but he still maintains an active public role. He’s the founding member and sits on the board of directors of the Tech Museum of Innovation. He also sits on the board of trustees for the Folger Shakespeare Museum, and the American Film Institute.