Out at Apple: Exec who wouldn't say sorry over iPhone maps - and man who came from Dixons
Apple is letting two top men go : Scott Forstall, in charge of the company’s mobile software efforts and John Browett, the Brit formerly with Dixons hired to run Apple's retail stores eight months ago . The New York Times said it was "a management shake-up aimed at making the company’s divisions work more harmoniously together.",
John Browett: ex-Dixons
Forstall, who previously ran software development for iPad and iPhone products in many respects, seemed to most closely embody the technology vision of former CEO Steven Jobs, who died a year ago. But The Times said he was also known as ambitious and divisive, qualities that generated more friction within Apple after the death of Jobs. . His responsibilities will be divided among a few other Apple executives.
After an outcry over the new iPhone maps service, he refused to sign a public apology over the matter, dismissing the problems as exaggerated, said the NYT. Instead, Apple CEO Timothy Cook signed the apology letter .
Apple said in a news release that the management changes would “encourage even more collaboration” at the company.
John Browett, who took over as head of the company’s retail operations only in April. had previously run the British retailer Dixons. He will leave Apple after a number of missteps, said the Times . In August, the company publicly apologised for a plan by Browett to cut back on staffing at its stores. Apple said that a search for a new head of retail was under way.
Forstall will leave Apple next year and serve as an adviser to CEO Cook until then.
Eddy Cue, who oversees Apple’s Internet services, will take over development of Apple maps and Siri, the voice-activated virtual assistant in the iPhone.
British-born Sir Jony Ive, head of industrial design at Apple, will take on more software responsibilities at the company by providing more “leadership and direction for Human Interface,” Apple said.
According to two people who have worked with Apple to develop new third-party products for the iPhone, said the Times, the relationship between Forstall and Ive had soured to a point that the two executives would not sit in the same meeting room together.