Who’s next? New high-profile resignation expected at Apple
By ForGeeks
Jeff Williams is leaving – but he won’t be the last. People inside Apple are already discussing which top executive will leave the company next. This was reported by Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. He says the impending COO resignation is just the beginning of a major reshuffle at the top.
An impending resignation of the chief operating officer is just the beginning of a major reshuffle at the top.
Apple is preparing for more executive resignations
When asked about the succession of power at Apple following the announced departure of Jeff Williams, Mark Gurman said, “I’m hearing quite frankly that more resignations among Apple’s top executives are expected. So I would expect at least one more major resignation next year, if not sooner.”
Although he doesn’t name names, the wording “quite frankly” prompts a page of analysis from Apple’s leadership team, especially amid the upcoming changes.
CEO Tim Cook, despite 14 years in office, shows no signs of being ready to leave in the next couple of years. Phil Schiller may formally retire, but his status as an Apple Fellow allows him to continue operations without the obligations of a top executive.
Phil Schiller’s status as an Apple Fellow allows him to continue without the obligations of a top executive.
Who could be leaving Apple next
If you focus on experience and age, two candidates look likely: Eddy Cue and Greg Jozwiak. They’re nearly the same age (there’s an 11-month difference), but according to the author, Cue would be more likely to go first: “It’s easier to picture Eddie in an NBA bleacher in sandals than in a meeting in Cupertino.” Jozwiak, on the other hand, having taken Schiller’s place a few years ago, is likely in no hurry to leave.
The most obvious candidate, however, Gurman sees John Gianandrea, senior vice president of AI and machine learning strategy, as the most obvious candidate. A former top Google executive, he came to Apple precisely to develop artificial intelligence, but amid recent criticism of the company for procrastination in this area, his position looks precarious.
An alternative is Joni Srouji, in charge of hardware technology. But he is noted to be “really passionate about his job,” and there is no publicly visible attempt to groom a successor.
The stress point is AI
Apple is clearly trying to catch up in artificial intelligence, and against that backdrop, the position of chief strategy officer may be weakening. Gianandrea’s departure would signal the company’s desire to restart the direction and sharpen its focus on AI after years of lagging.
