Adobe has named Louise Pentland as its new executive vice president and chief legal officer, the company announced Wednesday. Pentland, a veteran legal executive with past leadership roles at Nokia, PayPal, Roku, and Disney, will report directly to CEO Shantanu Narayen and oversee global legal and government affairs at a critical juncture for the software giant.

She succeeds Dana Rao, who stepped down last fall after six years in the role. Pentland’s appointment ends a months-long interim period during which HR chief Gloria Chen managed legal operations. Her arrival comes as Adobe accelerates its integration of artificial intelligence across its product suite while contending with regulatory pressure, including a Department of Justice lawsuit alleging it creates barriers for customers seeking to cancel subscriptions. Adobe has denied wrongdoing and is awaiting a ruling on its motion to dismiss.

“We are excited to welcome Louise Pentland to Adobe’s leadership team,” Narayen said in a statement. “Louise’s decades of experience driving transformations at global companies and leading cutting-edge legal organizations make her well suited to help drive Adobe’s continued growth.”

Pentland, 53, is regarded as one of the most accomplished figures in the in-house legal world. She served 16 years at Nokia, eventually rising to chief legal officer, and spent seven years at PayPal, where she led legal and business affairs. Her departure from PayPal in 2021, at the height of the Great Resignation, was marked by a widely shared LinkedIn post encouraging professionals to seek “renewal.”

Her recent tenure at Roku began in July 2024 with one of the most lucrative legal chief compensation packages in the country: a $2.63 million annual salary. Roku disclosed just last week that Pentland would depart on May 16 “to pursue another opportunity,” without naming Adobe. Before Roku, she held a brief role as chief counsel for Disney’s theme parks and consumer products unit.

Her move to Adobe marks the third time in four years that she has held a new legal leadership post. While the short tenures may raise questions, her appointment reflects Adobe’s confidence in her ability to navigate high-stakes transformation and public scrutiny.

Adobe’s legal department is entering a new phase as the company grapples with both rapid innovation and mounting legal complexity. Pentland’s deep experience with global regulatory issues, corporate governance, and technology-focused legal strategy will be critical in the months ahead.

For the full announcement, visit Law.com.