Succession at Apple: The Insiders Poised to Take Over Top Roles

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the potential leadership changes at Apple, including the likely successors for key executive roles such as CEO, operations, finance, software engineering, hardware engineering, and more. It also covers the recent iPad announcements, including the new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and accessories, as well as the ongoing exodus of Apple's design team following the departure of Jony Ive.

🙋 Q&A

[01] iPad Launch Announcements

1. Were there any surprises at the iPad launch?

• The key announcements included:
  • A revamped iPad Pro with a new OLED screen and the M4 chip, which provides enhanced AI capabilities
  • An updated iPad Air with a larger 13-inch screen option
  • New Apple Pencil Pro and an improved Magic Keyboard

2. There was no announcement related to the Vision Pro at the iPad event. When should we expect news on that?

• The article mentions that the Vision Pro is expected to receive its first significant software update at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024.

3. When will we get a new iPad mini?

• The article does not mention any updates or plans for a new iPad mini. The focus was on the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and accessories.

[02] Leadership Changes at Apple

1. Who are the likely successors for key executive roles at Apple?

• For the CEO role, John Ternus and Jeff Williams are mentioned as potential successors to Tim Cook.
• For other key roles:
  • Operations: Sabih Khan and Priya Balasubramaniam
  • Finance: Kevan Parekh
  • Software Engineering: Sebastien Marineau or Jon Andrews
  • Hardware Engineering: Eugene Kim, Kate Bergeron, or Mike Rockwell
  • Hardware Technologies: Sri Santhanam
  • Marketing: Bob Borchers or Kaiann Drance
  • Services: Oliver Schusser and Jeff Robbin

2. How is the departure of Jony Ive and the design team impacting Apple?

• The article notes that the exodus of Apple's main industrial designers and user interface designers following Jony Ive's departure in 2019 has been significant. Only a few members of Ive's core team remain, and there are questions about the future direction of Apple's design efforts.