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Many of you have seen the announcement we made this morning, but I wanted to take a moment to speak directly with you and share my thoughts and future plans. For the past few years, I've been in discussions with the board about stepping down as CEO, and today we officially announced that I will do so. I'm confident that the company is in great hands with Amar and Andrew, and I'm excited to see what they'll accomplish as we search for a new leader. I truly believe they'll do an amazing job, and I'd be honored if either of them were chosen to lead Autodesk moving forward.

I’ll continue to serve on the Autodesk board and remain involved during the transition period. While it’s time for me to move on, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. Autodesk is in a strong position financially, and the market is taking notice. Our leadership team is solid, our strategy is clear, and we’re making great progress—especially with our shift to a full subscription model, our early success in the cloud, and our resolution with activist investors.

This feels like the right moment for both the company and for me. I’m not leaving to spend more time with my family—though I do hope to be more present in the future. Instead, I’ll be spending more time in my workshop with my robots, and I have some exciting personal projects in the works. I’ll share more about those in the coming months.

Leading Autodesk has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I feel deeply grateful to have worked alongside so many talented, passionate people who helped build this incredible company. Together, we created products that have transformed entire industries and changed the way the world designs, builds, and creates.

Great, Good, and Important

When I first became CEO, people often asked how I defined Autodesk. I used to say, “Great, good, and important.” In my view, great companies are driven by strong financial performance. Good companies are defined by their values, culture, and how they treat employees, customers, and communities. And important companies make a real impact on the world.

Striking a balance between all three is one of the hardest challenges any leader faces—and I believe we’ve done well on all fronts.

  • Great: About 14 years ago, we rebuilt our executive team and since then, we've significantly improved every financial metric. After the 2009 economic crisis, our investors have seen over 6x returns. At the time, our market cap was just over $2 billion; today, it's more than $18 billion. More importantly, we've focused on long-term sustainable growth, which is rare in today’s short-term-driven environment. As a capitalist, I believe building strong financial results while thinking ahead is key to creating lasting companies.
  • Good: A good company isn’t just about money—it’s about values. We’ve stood up for what matters: diversity, inclusion, and treating people with respect. Our culture is something I’m very proud of. We celebrate different perspectives, and I know that the real strength of our company comes from the everyday actions of our employees, not just the awards we receive.
  • Important: Autodesk is unique because we're the toolmakers behind the people who design and build everything around us. Over the last few weeks, as my decision to step down became clearer, I’ve become even more aware of the incredible work our customers have done using our tools—from buildings and cars to movies and manufacturing workflows. I’m proud of the trust they place in us and the impact we’ve had on their industries.

My Awards Speech

When I first became CEO, I joked that I immediately got smarter and funnier. Well, starting tomorrow, I expect the opposite! I’ve been honored to lead Autodesk, but I’ve always tried to remember that my role is separate from who I am. At the risk of sounding like a bad Oscar speech, I want to thank a few people who were crucial to my journey and to the company’s success.

First, I want to thank Carol Bartz for believing in me when others didn’t. She gave me the confidence to take on this role and taught me a lot along the way. I also want to thank the founders for laying the foundation we built upon.

A big thanks to our customers, without whom we wouldn’t exist. It’s an honor to be your toolmaker and to be part of the incredible things you create every day.

Thanks to our partners worldwide, who have played such a vital role in our success. Your dedication and focus in representing Autodesk means a lot to us.

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to our shareholders, who have always supported our vision for long-term growth. I appreciate your trust and ongoing support.

To the CEO staff and the broader leadership team: You’ve done an incredible job. None of what we’ve achieved would have been possible without your leadership, vision, and hard work. We’ve shared many great moments, and I’ve always valued your support, even if I didn’t say it enough.

Most importantly, thank you to the thousands of smart, dedicated, and passionate employees who made Autodesk what it is today. As CEO, I often took credit (and blame), but I never forgot that the real work came from you. I’ll miss our conversations and the energy you bring to the office every day.

I’ve always believed that the best leaders have vision and courage. I hope I’ve lived up to that, but the truth is, you did most of the heavy lifting. Thank you for everything.

With gratitude,
Carl

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