Apple has announced that its 5-year retail chief, Angela Ahrendts, is due to leave the company in April, citing her “new personal and professional pursuits” as the reasons for her upcoming departure.
Ahrendts was previously the chief executive of Burberry but joined Apple in October of 2013 with a newly created position meant just for her. In just a few years, she had become Apple’s highest-paid employee, receiving over $26.5 million in 2018 as opposed to CEO Tim Cook’s $15.7 million. Her role was overseeing the company’s strategic decisions, expansions, and operations both online and in retail stores.
Here’s an excerpt from Apple’s official announcement of Ahrendts’ departure:
“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 the meantime, long-time employee and current Vice President for People Deirdre O’Brien will be taking on an expanded role that will be covering retail.
