Canva's CTO steps down after 12 years as the company navigates its AI pivot

Brendan Humphreys, who joined as a senior engineer when the team was 12 people, will leave the role on June 19 and transition to an advisory position.

Brendan Humphreys, outgoing Canva CTO, who is stepping down after 12 years

Canva's Chief Technology Officer Brendan Humphreys has announced he is leaving the company after 12 years, departing at a moment when the design platform is in the middle of a significant push into AI-powered tools and enterprise features.

Humphreys shared the news in a LinkedIn post. "When I joined Canva in 2014, there were just 12 of us," he wrote. "I don't think any of us could have imagined the level or pace of what we'd build together and I'm so proud to have been part of it." He rose from senior engineer to Director of Engineering, then Head of Engineering, before being appointed CTO in September 2024.

His departure date is set for June 19, 2026. He will reportedly stay on as an advisor after that.

Departure comes during Canva's AI expansion

The timing is notable. Canva has been rapidly integrating AI across its platform, expanding from its core design tools into enterprise workflows, document creation, and AI-assisted content generation. Losing the technology leader who oversaw the engineering organization through that transition raises questions about continuity at a critical stage.

Humphreys wrote that he is proud of what the technology team has built but that it is time for a break, something he said he has never taken in a 28-year career. He credited Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams for their vision and partnership.

"We've built world-class systems and products at a speed most companies can only dream of," Humphreys added. "In an industry defined by relentless change, that culture has kept us ahead."

Humphreys wrote that the company is "in a strong position" to continue navigating the AI era, but did not reference specific leadership succession plans.

Before joining Canva, Humphreys spent nearly seven years at Atlassian as a Principal Developer and previously founded Cenqua. He also serves as a part-time advisor to Folklore Ventures, a role he has held since 2020.

Canva's AI tools, including its Magic Studio suite and integrations with third-party platforms, have become central to its growth strategy as the company competes with Adobe and an expanding field of AI-native design startups.