Apple Announces Retirement of Bob Mansfield, Senior VP of Hardware Engineering

[you people smh]

No, that's the dream of MBA's. People like Steve Jobs are in business because it fulfills them. It's their passion. That's why they make great products. Other people, whose main goal is getting rich, just make average products that are designed to make the most money.

Yeah, Steve Jobs cared not about money. That's why Apple has by far the highest margins in the industry.....

give me a break.

 

[Peace]

What an insulting comment. Not only are you complaining when someone retires after a lifetime of hard work, but you question their judgment as they exit.

First off. The FIRST thing I typed was "good luck Bob".

And secondly after not having any updates in almost a year ( TWO years for the Mac Pro ) for a lot of Apple products gives me a darn good reason to question the Path Apple is taking.

 

[CFreymarc]

Yeah, kind of scary. Bob Mansfield knew what was up on all courts.

This is the first of many "Steve's people" taking the parachute and leaving. Just a matter of time before the rest of the top crew gets their vestments in and leaves. I give Johnny a year or so before he is gone. At least he is enjoying the London Olympics on Apple's time as part of a european tour. Correction, Sir Johnny.

 

[ChrisTX]

All of my many Apple devices run buttery smooth because of the hardware he helped engineer. Godspeed to you Bob, and enjoy your retirement!

 

[hobo.hopkins]

That's really sad, he always seemed a nice guy. I can't feel too bad for him with those stock sales, though.

 

[BornAgainApple]

Enjoy retirement Bob! Now go buy a plane, hammock, lifetime supply of beer and oh yeah...an ISLAND

 

[SeattleMoose]

Kudos!!!!

Bob, thank you for your great work at Apple!!!!

Wishing you a long and happy life!!!!

 

[utahman130]

Loved Bob in the keynote videos. Always made sure hardware got done the right way and recognized. Wish him a happy retirement!

 

[Lahmy88]

Damn he is gunna be missed!

 

[blow45]

First off. The FIRST thing I typed was "good luck Bob".

And secondly after not having any updates in almost a year ( TWO years for the Mac Pro ) for a lot of Apple products gives me a darn good reason to question the Path Apple is taking.

The cynic in me seeing such a core member of the team resign 3 years before 100 million more and at age 50, after an "upgrade" to the pro that brought no USB 3 or thundebolt and 2 year old hardware, as well as a new MacBook pro which is as upgradeable, or close, as an iPod would say something is very suspicious here. Let's not forget how well os x developed after Serlet left... These guys have ego (I mean it in a good way) and sometimes when you don't like the direction the company is headed you don't just put up with it, you leave.

 

[petsounds]

Yeah, Steve Jobs cared not about money. That's why Apple has by far the highest margins in the industry.....

give me a break.

I don't deify Jobs; of course he cared about money. But those high margins are invested back into R&D.

 

[MacFan23]

Yeah, Steve Jobs cared not about money. That's why Apple has by far the highest margins in the industry.....

give me a break.

Great people who's passion to create greatness motivates them over money create hugely successful companies like Apple and Google. Doesn't mean they can't also be good at business, or at least work with people who are.

 

[unlinked]

Is he giving up hundreds of millions of dollars by retiring right now? If so, why?

He is giving up money whenever he leaves. Assuming it is voluntary.

 

[Rocketman]

I solved the puzzle and updated my post.

 

[greytmom]

I DESIGN HARDWARE IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!! (apologies for all caps, but Chris Farley lived his life with the caps lock on....)

Best post of the day!

 

[Negritude]

The cynic in me seeing such a core member of the team resign 3 years before 100 million more and at age 50, after an "upgrade" to the pro that brought no USB 3 or thundebolt and 2 year old hardware, as well as a new MacBook pro which is as upgradeable, or close, as an iPod would say something is very suspicious here. Let's not forget how well os x developed after Serlet left... These guys have ego (I mean it in a good way) and sometimes when you don't like the direction the company is headed you don't just put up with it, you leave.

...Or get kicked out. Since he was in charge of the debacle that is the lack of updates to the Mac Pro, maybe this is a good sign. Maybe it means that Apple got fed up with his lack of initiative in regards to the traditional desktop, and is looking to put things back on track for some innovation in that area.

 

[manu chao]

This is the first of many "Steve's people" taking the parachute and leaving. Just a matter of time before the rest of the top crew gets their vestments in and leaves. I give Johnny a year or so before he is gone. At least he is enjoying the London Olympics on Apple's time as part of a european tour. Correction, Sir Johnny.

Let's go back a few years, to 2005 (?). This is a photo from Time Magazine showing from left: (1) Tony Fadell, head of hardware engineering, (2) John Rubinstein, head of iPod and the rest we all know still very well. The people on the right side, except Jobs, are still with Apple, the people on the left are not, in fact they left well before Jobs died.

 

[jonnysods]

I'm sure that they don't let you work less than 80-90 hours at Apple if you are that high up. I'm sure he is happy to get out while he has his health.

Good luck Bob.

 

[zzLZHzz]

The conclusion: If you don't like iOS inclusion in OS X, prepare to accept it or move on. I think we're going to start seeing some of it on the hardware level as well, maybe the inclusion of touch based hardware anyone?

touch based user interface will truly be more natural to human and if apple found a way to do it smart. they will do well.

in some sense design come before engineering in apple so john ive is still very much more important.

 

[darkplanets]

Change in corporate governance is inevitable. No one lives or works forever.

Let's hope the change is a positive one.

I'd hate to see Ive go, which will happen eventually.

 

[Rmafive]

People retire! It's not a sign of trouble at all that Mansfield is retiring.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

hmmmmm.

He gave up $100 million to leave 3 years early ?

Something doesn't seem right here

Well he obviously has more than that. Whats wrong with living trying your life worry free? 100m vs 3 years of life? You can't buy back time.

 

[Rogifan]

hmmmmm.

He gave up $100 million to leave 3 years early ?

Something doesn't seem right here

Very interesting. Maybe he and Jony didn't get along.

----------

Riccio was formerly vice president of Mac hardware before becoming head of the iPad division.

He's well rounded.

Yes I believe he and Jony Ive oversaw the Mac division after Jon Rubinstein left. Or it might have been earlier. I think sometime in 2005 Rubinstein's title was changed from SVP hardware to SVP iPod division.

 

[efktd]

job well done! good for him. it's nice that apple's ideas and vision stays within the company over a long period of time and passed down to the next generation.

 

[Rogifan]

This is the first of many "Steve's people" taking the parachute and leaving. Just a matter of time before the rest of the top crew gets their vestments in and leaves. I give Johnny a year or so before he is gone. At least he is enjoying the London Olympics on Apple's time as part of a european tour. Correction, Sir Johnny.