Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts exits the company

Apple has announced that current SVP of Retail, Angela Ahrendts, will be leaving the company in April. The end of Ahrendts tenure has come after five years has come as a surprise to many, after what was a very high-profile appointment. Before joining Apple, Ahrendts had successfully transformed fashion label Burberry into a very profitable business and her arrival at the Cupertino giant was considered something of a coup for Apple CEO Tim Cook. Ahrendts will be replaced by a 30-year veteran of the company in Deirdre O’Brien who currently heads up the HR portfolio. 

“The last five years have been the most stimulating, challenging and fulfilling of my career. Through the teams’ collective efforts, Retail has never been stronger or better positioned to make an even greater contribution for Apple,” said Angela Ahrendts, SVP of Retail. “I feel there is no better time to pass the baton to Deirdre, one of Apple’s strongest executives. I look forward to watching how this amazing team, under her leadership, will continue to change the world one person and one community at a time.” 

For his part, Apple CEO Tim Cook offered these words: “I want to thank Angela for inspiring and energizing our teams over the past five years,” said Tim Cook. “She has been a positive, transformative force, both for Apple’s stores and the communities they serve. We all wish her the very best as she begins a new chapter.” 

Ahrendts joined Apple right at right the time it was launching the Apple Watch, a product that was heavily marketed as much as a fashion accessory as it was a smartwatch and health tracker. The Apple Watch has gone on to be a very successful product for Apple, while her efforts in Retail saw Apple stores continue to evolve into high-tech fashion statements. Ahrendts is leaving Apple without announcing any plans for what is next on the horizon. 

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