Apple’s Angela Ahrendts to depart in April; Deirdre O’Brien named senior vice president of Retail + People

Apple today announced that Deirdre O’Brien is taking on new responsibilities for Apple’s retail and online stores in an expanded role as senior vice president of Retail + People, reporting to CEO Tim Cook. After five transformative years leading the company’s retail and online stores, Angela Ahrendts plans to depart Apple in April for new personal and professional pursuits.
In her expanded role, Deirdre will bring her three decades of Apple experience to lead the company’s global retail reach, focused on the connection between the customer and the people and processes that serve them. She will continue to lead the People team, overseeing all People-related functions, including talent development and Apple University, recruiting, employee relations and experience, business partnership, benefits, compensation, and inclusion and diversity.
Deirdre O’Brien named senior vice president of Retail + People“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, in a statement. “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.”
“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, in a statement. “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.”
Angela Ahrendts, Senior Vice President, Retail, Apple Inc. to depart in AprilApple today operates 35 online stores and 506 retail stores on five continents, staffed by teams who are dedicated to enriching lives and serving their communities. Every Apple retail store location offers innovative programs for customers, including Today at Apple, designed to unlock creativity, inspire learning and encourage connection.
“I want to thank Angela for inspiring and energizing our teams over the past five years,” said Tim Cook, in a statement. “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, in a statement. “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.”
Source: Apple Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: Well now, that was certainly a very lucrative five years for Ahrendts.
Seems like it was just last week that we wrote:
Having Ahrendts, with a highly successful CEO-ship on her resume and available to step in for Cook at a moment’s notice should some unforeseen tragedy happen, is invaluable. — MacDailyNews, January 29, 2019
Yup, just one week after a nice big, glossy spread in Vogue Business (“Apple’s Angela Ahrendts has a plan for next-gen retail“) Ahrendts is out. Guess her plan didn’t go over so well.
“For new personal and professional pursuits,” smacks of being shown the door. Hundreds of millions of dollars later, no less.
And, just like that, Apple no longer has a seasoned CEO on hand in case of emergency.
Ahrendts’ last two tweets sound like she thought she’d be around for longer:

With our new #TodayatApple sessions launching this week, there are even more ways to grow your skills or discover new passions. Can’t wait to see what you create! https://t.co/tQKBWjPZ6N
— Angela Ahrendts (@AngelaAhrendts) January 29, 2019

Huge thanks to everyone in Apple Retail who supported customers worldwide, encouraging them to connect, inspiring them to learn and unlocking their creativity last year. Here’s to an awesome 2019. pic.twitter.com/GaWfVxDNCQ
— Angela Ahrendts (@AngelaAhrendts) January 1, 2019

Now, can we get somebody to convince Jonny to lose those awful, hard-ass, POS wooden boxes that are strewn about Apple Stores?
And, oh by the way, call them “STORES,” because that’s what they are. Thanks in advance.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s Angela Ahrendts has a plan for next-gen retail – January 29, 2019
Why Angela Ahrendts left Burberry for Apple – June 20, 2018
Ralph Lauren to add Apple’s Angela Ahrendts to Board of Directors – May 9, 2018
Angela Ahrendts is again Apple’s best-paid employee – December 29, 2017
Apple now requires CEO Tim Cook to fly only on private jets – December 28, 2017
Apple CEO Tim Cook paid close to $102 million for fiscal 2017 – December 28, 2017
Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women: Angela Ahrendts #13, Laurene Powell Jobs #14 – November 2, 2017
Deirdre O’Brien named Apple’s vice president of People – July 21, 2017
Tim Cook took home $10.3 million, Angela Ahrendts earned $25.7 million in 2015 – January 6, 2016
Apple’s Angela Ahrendts emerges as highest-paid U.S. woman with $83 million – May 5, 2015
Apple’s retail chief Angela Ahrendts paid $73.4 million in cash and stock last year; BoD member Drexler steps down – January 22, 2015
Apple’s new retail chief Ahrendts granted $68 million in restricted stock – May 6, 2014