Apple announced a corporate reorganization
and executive shuffle Monday that it said was aimed at increasing
collaboration across hardware, software and services.
As part of the move, Scott Forstall, the company's senior vice
president in charge of iOS mobile device software, will leave next
year, Apple said. The company declined to detail the specific reasons
for the move, but Forstall held overall responsibility for the
disastrous launch of Apple Maps in the latest version of the
operating system.
Also on his way out is the company's head of retail, John Browett,
who only joined Apple in January after serving as chief executive of
European electronics chain Dixons Retail since 2007.
The reorganization will see Apple's lead designer, Jony Ive, take
responsibility for Human Interface across the company, while Eddy Cue
will add Siri and Maps into his existing responsibilities for online
services.
Craig Federighi will oversee both of Apple's software tracks, iOS
and OS X, while Bob Mansfield will head a newly formed Technologies
group for oversee wireless and semiconductor teams.
"We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new
products in Apple's history," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said in
a statement.
"The amazing products that we've introduced in September and
October - iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod
touch, iPod nano and many of our applications - 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."
