On a day when both Google and Microsoft jockeyed for headlines and a hurricane overshadowed it all, Apple has announced major executive management changes.
Senior Vice President of Retail John Browett is leaving the company, and Apple is already underway with a search for his replacement. During the transition period, Apple's Retail team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook.
Also on his way out is Senior Vice President of iOS Software Scott Forstall. Forstall will leave the company next year and will serve as an advisor to Cook until his exit.
Browett had only been with the company since January of this year. He came to Apple after being the CEO of European tech retailer Dixons Retail. Browett also held the CEO title at Tesco.com once upon a time.
Forstall, on the other hand, is a long-time Apple man. He started with the company in 1997 and is credited as being one of the original architects behind Mac OS X. In 2006, he became responsible for OS releases (his work in this role included Leopard).
The shakeups mean more responsibility will be placed onto other high-level management such as Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue, and Craig Federighi. Ive will lead Human Interface work across the company in addition to his Industrial Design duties. Cue will add Siri and Maps to the other online services he oversees. Federighi will take over both iOS and OS X, while Mansfield will lead a new group called Technologies. According to the press release, this "combines all of Apple’s wireless teams across the company in one organization, fostering innovation in this area at an even higher level."
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