Apple Appoints Deirdre O'Brien to New 'Vice President of People' Role

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that it is promoting Deirdre O'Brien to a new head HR role, "vice president of People." O'Brien, who previously served as vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations, has been at Apple for nearly 30 years.

According to the news release, O'Brien will lead all HR functions, like talent development, recruiting, benefits, compensation, and business support, plus she'll oversee Apple University, where employees are trained. She will be reporting directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

"As long as I've been at Apple, Deirdre has been the glue that bonds our operations, sales, marketing and finance teams to deliver products to our customers," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "Deirdre deeply understands Apple's unique culture and that people join Apple to do the best work of their lives. She is a superb leader and I'm thrilled she will be bringing her experience and talent to this critical role."

O'Brien first joined Apple in 1988 and has had a "key role" in each Apple hardware product launch over the past 20 years. She will start her new position as vice president of People in the fall.

"I love Apple and, like so many of my colleagues, I'm honored to have made it my life's work," said Deirdre. "I'm excited to begin this new chapter, supporting 120,000 incredibly talented people around the world who are motivated to do amazing things every day. It is a privilege to work among such a diverse and talented team, and to help them thrive here at Apple."

Apple has recently taken to announcing high profile hires and promotions on its news site, most recently sharing the hiring of Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, two former Sony Pictures executives who will lead Apple's original programming efforts, and the promotion of Isabel Ge Mahe to Managing Director of Greater China.

Article Link: Apple Appoints Deirdre O'Brien to New 'Vice President of People' Role

 

[btrach144]

This is a direct move following Microsoft appointing Kathleen Hogan to the role of Chief People Officer two years ago.

She and her title were discussed in the news last week. Guess Apple thought it was a good idea.

http://college.usatoday.com/2017/07/20/hiba-cpo-kathleen-hogan-microsoft/

 

[desmond2046]

So Denise Young Smith was Vice President of HR and recently became Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity. So what is this people thing? Are their roles overlapping?

 

[Gorms]

More diversity at the top level is never a bad thing. Especially as the the rest of the VP’s hopefully aren’t going anywhere. Well, most of them... there is one guy who could leave and I wouldn’t be too bothered.

 

[Urban Joe]

Ironically, she's over so many people she will probably be as personally accessible as God.

 

[Nebulance]

Is this related to the Human Fund?

 

[justperry]

What an odd name "Deirdre", how do you pronounce that name?

Good luck to her though.

 

[NMBob]

I wonder if Apple is their own health insurance "company"? I'd think they could afford it.

Just something HR-ish that popped into my head.
[doublepost=1500658124][/doublepost]

What an odd name "Deirdre", how do you pronounce that name?

Good luck to her though.

deer-dra. Kinda. I'd guess.

 

[rtomyj]

Diversity - cool

Making up **** to fit a quota - not cool

I'm not one to know things about Apple - The Business Side, but this doesn't sound real.

Yo Apple, make me Vice President of Air. I'll make sure the campus' air quality is on par. I require 100K salary and stock though

 

[Olz]

Based on the pictures Apple puts out, you'd think everyone at Apple wears an Apple Watch. It would be refreshing to see one of the execs wearing something else.

 

[nicho]

What an odd name "Deirdre", how do you pronounce that name?

Good luck to her though.

Deer Dree.

 

[Glockworkorange]

More diversity at the top level is never a bad thing. Especially as the the rest of the VP’s hopefully aren’t going anywhere. Well, most of them... there is one guy who could leave and I wouldn’t be too bothered.

Define diversity. Is it just sexual organs and skin color, or perhaps diversity of thought?

 

[lazyrighteye]

This is a direct move following Microsoft appointing Kathleen Hogan to the role of Chief People Officer two years ago.
She and her tittle were discussed in the news last week. Guess Apple thought it was a good idea.
http://college.usatoday.com/2017/07/20/hiba-cpo-kathleen-hogan-microsoft/

Wait, hold on a sec - You seriously think Apple made a decision about an internal promotion based on a promotion within another company? One made 2 years ago? And further support this belief because Kathleen Hogan was recently the subject of a recurring USA Today series focussed on influential people and how they got where they are in their careers?

Dang.

 

[iLoveDeveloping]

Most Irish name EVER! :-D By the way, its DEER DRAAA (A as in, Bark). It's a very common name in Ireland. I would assume one of her parents are Irish with two names like that.

 

[DoctorTech]

I applaud Apple for doing this. When I first started my career, the "Personnel Department" was involved in employee development and ensuring a pipeline of talent to fill open positions. They even got involved in personnel issues between front line employees and management. From my experience working for 4 Fortune 500 companies over the past 30 years, when companies shifted to the "Human Resources Department" they simply became an extension of management rather than serving more as a mediator between management and front line employees - they lost all focus on people as people and instead viewed everyone as a "resource" to be consumed, deployed, recycled or discarded.

I like Apple's emphasis on People as people rather than "resources".

 

[justperry]

I wonder if Apple is their own health insurance "company"? I'd think they could afford it.

Just something HR-ish that popped into my head.
[doublepost=1500658124][/doublepost]

deer-dra. Kinda. I'd guess.

Deer Dree.

Thanks to the both of you, I just found a Youtube vid.

 

[neutralguy]

I guess Apple has too much money to squander around in frivolous positions!!!

 

[Rocketman]

People are literally at the core of Apple. She will have the nicest office in the spaceship.

 

[TimSHB]

She has people skills, she is good at dealing with people! Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

 

[Rogifan]

So Denise Young Smith was Vice President of HR and recently became Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity. So what is this people thing? Are their roles overlapping?

Sure seems like an overlap. Diversity & Inclusion could easily be a function/group inside of HR or just an executive council that reports to Cook at meets once a month/quarter. It doesn’t need to be a position with its own VP.

 

[Stella]

Some hipster / fancy name for "Human Resources"?

 

[Boatboy24]

Is this related to the Human Fund?

Ha! Glad I'm not the only one who thought that!

 

[Jakexb]

Diversity - cool

Making up **** to fit a quota - not cool

I'm not one to know things about Apple - The Business Side, but this doesn't sound real.

Yo Apple, make me Vice President of Air. I'll make sure the campus' air quality is on par. I require 100K salary and stock though

I think the role is very real. It's HR but even broader than that since it's including culture things like Apple U.
I think it's the name that is weird. But HR roles consistently get euphemisms. Even "HR" was an attempt to sound nicer than things that came before it. Nobody likes to admit that "employees" have "jobs" at a "company"

 

[kemal]

The last O'Brien I remember working on people was a real peach. Left me reaching for a Victory G&T.

 

[mi7chy]

What an odd name "Deirdre", how do you pronounce that name?

Dr. Dre