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2012-10-30 11:47:51
Apple has announced a major shake-up of its management, with two senior
executives to leave the company.
The announcement follows embarrassing problems with its new mapping software
and disappointing quarterly results.
Scott Forstall, head of its iOS software, will leave next year. He will serve
as an adviser to chief executive Tim Cook in the interim.
Head of retail John Browett, the former Dixons boss, is also leaving after just
six months in the job.
Apple said the moves were a way to increase collaboration across its hardware,
software and services businesses. No specific reasons were given for either
man's departure.
As part of the changes, Sir Jonathan Ive, who runs the team designing Apple's
hardware, will also oversee the user experience on its software.
Mapping problems
The company faced a barrage of criticism after its new mapping software,
introduced last month, showed inaccuracies and misplaced towns and cities.
The maps debacle led to Mr Cook issuing an apology to customers, while some
critics called for Mr Forstall's head as he was the executive behind the panned
app.
Analysis
Leo Kelion Technology reporter
He had been described as Apple's CEO-in-waiting and "mini-Steve". Now Scott
Forstall faces becoming a footnote in Apple's history. The iOS software chief
had worked alongside the firm's late founder Steve Jobs at Next before Apple
bought the firm.
His app-based system has been credited as a major factor in turning round the
company's fortunes to the point where the iPhone and iPad now account for most
of the firm's profits.
However, he has also been described as a polarising figure within the company,
and his "skeuomorphic" design ethic - which involved software resembling
real-world items such as calendars with torn paper and stitching - was at odds
with Jony Ive's more Spartan visions.
The balance of power appears to have shifted after the fiasco over iOS 6's
mapping software which led to a front page apology from Tim Cook on Apple's
website.
Steve Jobs only secured his legacy after a period in the tech industry's
wilderness. Mr Forstall's own legacy will depend on whether he can repeat the
trick.
Mr Forstall joined Apple in 1997 when the technology giant purchased Steve
Jobs' start-up Next, and he is credited as one of the original architects of
Mac OS X.
A profile in Businessweek called him the "best remaining proxy for the voice of
Steve Jobs", the iconic co-founder of Apple, for his strong views on how
consumer technology should function and was responsible for the development of
iOS, the operating system on iPhones and iPads that bring in most of Apple's
money.
But he was reportedly unpopular with the rest of senior management.
There are several reports that he refused to sign the apology that Mr Cook
eventually issued for the maps disaster.
Mr Forstall made almost $39m this year from selling shares, and is likely to be
in high demand from rival firms in Silicon Valley.
Craig Federighi will lead both iOS and OS X now, while Sir Jonathan will take
on responsibility for the design of "human interface" in its software.
One analyst said Sir Jonathan - responsible for much of the look of the iPod,
iPhone and other devices - could now help reinvigorate the look of Apple's
software, which has been slower to evolve than Google's Android.
"If you have two different heads, you have two different fiefdoms," said BGC
Partners analyst Colin Gillis.
'Relentless focus'
Mr Browett left British electronics chain Dixons to take up his post with Apple
in April this year. His efforts to cut back staffing at the firm's stores
provoked a backlash and U-turn, all of which was leaked to the press.
The search for his successor is already underway, with stores reporting
directly to chief executive Tim Cook in the meantime.
The management changes come a little over a year into Mr Cook's reign as chief
executive.
"We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in
Apple's history," Mr Cook said.
"The amazing products that we've introduced in September and October... could
only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless
focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services."
Mr Browett was seen as one of Mr Cook's key recruitments. The fact he has moved
him out after such a short period of time may be seen as the Apple boss
demonstrating a ruthless, but perhaps efficient streak.
"These changes show that Tim Cook is stamping his authority on the business,"
Ben Wood, analyst with CCS Insight, said.
"Perhaps disappointed with the maps issues, Forstall became the scapegoat."
Apple's fourth quarter profits of $8.2bn ( 5bn) reported last week, also missed
Wall Street forecasts, while the 14 million iPads it sold in the quarter fell
short of analysts' expectations.