As of today, Apple has announced that Angela Ahrendts is leaving Apple in two months, and Deirdre O’Brien is taking her position as Senior Vice President of Retail and People. She will oversee on new responsibilities for Apple Retail Stores and the Apple Online Store. Angela is departing Apple sometime in April for seeking new personal and professional pursuits.
Deirdre has worked at Apple for over thirty years and is going to lead the global retail reach of Apple. She’ll also focus on the enrichment of customers and people. She’ll continue working for the People team for all of the functions, talent development, recruitment, compensation, diversity, and benefits.
“At Apple, we believe our soul is our people, and Deirdre understands the qualities and strengths of our team better than anyone,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “For more than three decades, she has helped keep Apple focused on serving customers and enriching lives. She’s an exceptional leader and she’s been a vital partner to our retail teams around the world since the very beginning. I am thrilled to work alongside Deirdre in her new role, and I know our 70,000 retail employees will be, too.”
Deirdre O’Brien, a 30-year Apple veteran, will lead Apple’s Retail and People teams.Deirdre O’Brien, a 30-year Apple veteran, will lead Apple’s Retail and People teams.
Deirdre O’Brien Senior Vice President of Retail + People
“People come to Apple to do the best work of their lives, and our retail teams show their passion every day, in every interaction, all around the world,” said Deirdre O’Brien, senior vice president of Retail + People. “It is the opportunity of a lifetime to work with, and learn from, such a talented, diverse and imaginative team. I am looking forward to this journey, and to continuing the important work of the People team in supporting all of Apple’s amazing employees.”
“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.”
“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, senior vice president 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.”
In other words, Deirdre is very excited to work with the Retail department of Apple, and to enrich the team of every Apple retail store. She’s going to support the greatest employees of Apple while still working at her position in the People team, and learn many new concepts for Apple in the future.
Therefore, Angela Ahrendts is a wonderful leader in business and has lead the Apple Retail team for five years, since late 2014. Now it’s time for her to move forward, but we don’t know where she is going after Apple this spring. She might start her new business, return to Burberry, or somewhere else. She is a great leader of Apple for a few years already, but we’re sad to say farewell to her.
UPDATE: 2.5.19 9:00 PMÂ Kateland Vu contributed to this article.
