Angela Ahrendts to depart Apple in April, Deirdre O’ Brien named SVP of Retail + People

Apple today announced that Angela Ahrendts, who is currently the company’s SVP of retail, volition last departing inwards Apr afterward 5 years. Her successor volition last Dierdre O’Brien, nether the official championship of senior Vice President of Retail + People.

Some comments from Tim Cook on the move:

“At Apple, nosotros believe our soul is our people, in addition to Deirdre understands the qualities in addition to strengths of our squad amend than anyone,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “For to a greater extent than than 3 decades, she has helped maintain Apple focused on serving customers in addition to enriching lives. She’s an especial leader in addition to she’s been a vital partner to our retail teams around the globe since the really beginning. I am thrilled to travel amongst Deirdre inwards her novel role, in addition to I know our 70,000 retail employees volition be, too.”

And only about words from O’Brien herself:

“People come upward to Apple to create the best travel of their lives, in addition to our retail teams exhibit their passion every day, inwards every interaction, all around the world,” said Deirdre O’Brien, senior vice president of Retail + People. “It is the chance of a lifetime to travel with, in addition to larn from, such a talented, various in addition to imaginative team. I am looking forrard to this journey, in addition to to continuing the of import travel of the People squad inwards supporting all of Apple’s amazing employees.”

And finally a banknote from the departing Ahrendts:

“The in conclusion 5 years accept been the around stimulating, challenging in addition to fulfilling of my career. Through the teams’ collective efforts, Retail has never been stronger or amend positioned to brand an fifty-fifty greater contribution for Apple,” said Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of Retail. “I experience in that place is no amend fourth dimension to transcend the baton to Deirdre, 1 of Apple’s strongest executives. I await forrard to watching how this amazing team, nether her leadership, volition perish along to alter the globe 1 mortal in addition to 1 community at a time.”

I don’t mean value yous tin give the sack overstate how of import Angela Ahrendts has been to Apple’s retail strategy since joining the society inwards 2014. Remember they tried to supervene upon their retail guru Ron Johnson with a human being named John Browett, but ended upward firing Browett afterward only ix months. Tim Cook in addition to his squad in addition to hence spent to a greater extent than than a twelvemonth examining candidates earlier finally selecting Ahrendts.

Things are manifestly a lot dissimilar these days. Apple forthwith has 506 retail stores around the globe, in addition to 35 online stores. Deirdre has been with the society for to a greater extent than than xxx years, in addition to volition perish along to oversee the People team. There’s no give-and-take all the same on where Ahrendts is headed, but the press unloosen said she is leaving for “new personal in addition to professional person pursuits.”

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