Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls Recent WSJ Report About Jony Ive 'Absurd'

[MacRumors]

Following Apple's announcement that Jony Ive will be leaving the company to start his own design firm later this year, there have been multiple reports speculating on why Ive left and his time at Apple over the course of the last few years.

The Wall Street Journal published one such report over the weekend, suggesting that after the release of the Apple Watch and its failure as a fashion accessory, Ive was dispirited and wanted to take a step back from day to day work at the company.

The report further suggested that Ive's hands-off approach was disrupting work internally as he failed to show up to meetings and failed to offer design team members the guidance they needed, particularly on the iPhone X. Ive was said to be frustrated with an increasing focus on operations over design.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, in an email to NBC News, called the story "absurd" and said that the conclusions drawn by the report "don't match with reality." From Cook's email:

The story is absurd. A lot of the reporting, and certainly the conclusions, just don't match with reality. At a base level, it shows a lack of understanding about how the design team works and how Apple works. It distorts relationships, decisions and events to the point that we just don't recognize the company it claims to describe.

The design team is phenomenally talented. As Jony has said, they're stronger than ever, and I have complete confidence that they will thrive under Jeff, Evans, and Alan's leadership. We know the truth and we know the incredible things they're capable of doing. The projects they're working on will blow you away.

Apple last week said that Ive is leaving Apple to begin his own company, LoveFrom. Apple will be LoveFrom's first client, and Ive said that he plans to continue to work on Apple design projects.

Ive also said that Apple's design team is "stronger, more vibrant, and more talented" than at any other point in time, and that he has complete faith in future Apple products and the Apple design team.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls Recent WSJ Report About Jony Ive 'Absurd'

 

[UKPoliticsGuy]

No outright denial though ....

 

[djphat2000]

Everyone believes the scandal. They could care less if Tim was telling the truth about this. So, in the end it doesn't matter. Ive is going to start his own company, with Apple the primary client. Believe what you want... I guess.

 

[Darth.Titan]

No outright denial though ....

Calling the article "absurd" and that "... the conclusions, just don't match with reality..." is pretty much an outright denial as far as I can see.

That being said... while I have no reason to doubt Tim Cook, this rebuttal would have more weight if being made by Jony Ives himself. Of course that's just my opinion.

 

[Doctor Q]

Amidst these claims and counterclaims, we need to hear from Jony himself. What say you, Mr. Ive?

 

[Glockworkorange]

I don't think the WSJ article said the design team was not talented.

I think the article talked about how Ive had basically checked out over the past few years.

Cook's comment is misdirection--it doesn't address the true point of the article.

Leads me to believe the WSJ article was largely accurate.

 

[Baymowe335]

The truth is usually much less scandalous or interesting and would get way fewer clicks....

 

[kevinp8192]

I often disagree with the WSJ, but it's usually responsible reporting. But this wasn't an example. What value other than being a gossip hit piece did it serve? The article was the business equivalent of something that would be reported on the Kardashians.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

I dont believe Tim Cook for a second here. Honestly...he seems like a great guy, but he is in no way, shape or form the next Steve Jobs and never will be. He just doesnt strike me as a person who has the passion for design and innovation steve had.

So i totally get why Johny would want to leave and seemed to not care any more with apple because his partner Steve is gone and there is no one worthy for him to bounce design and ideas off of. Tim is just not that guy.

What they need there is another Rebel, another Steve Jobs who cares more about changing the world then making a profit!

 

[Glockworkorange]

Calling the article "absurd" and that "... the conclusions, just don't match with reality..." is pretty much an outright denial as far as I can see.

That being said... while I have no reason to doubt Tim Cook, this rebuttal would have more weight if being made by Jony Ives himself. Of course that's just my opinion.

It's misdirection. What part is "absurd?" I don't think this is a very strong denial. Why doesn't he come out and refute the central point of the article in exact words: "The idea that Jony "checked out" is incorrect and absurd. It's embarrassingly inaccurate and we deny it in the strongest terms." There---that's all Cook had to say.

 

[555gallardo]

I smell some damage control

 

[simonmet]

The article was very unflattering towards Cook and Apple, so no wonder he’s come out self-promoting again.

That last sentence is the reason it’s hard to take anything else he says seriously: just corporate hyperbole and propaganda.

 

[andrew12]

Amidst these claims and counterclaims, we need to hear from Jony himself. What say you, Mr. Ive?

That’s Sir Jony to you and I

 

[zapmymac]

Maybe the article was over the top?

However, it’s typical human nature to get burnt out doing one job for 30+ years. At min. The new design company will allow for fresh blood and be able to shield Apple from bad designs while doing just that via the new company-testing bad/good/weird designs...

...and the board members, I could realistically see that as an issue, less creative types. A quick google search could confirm/deny the types of backgrounds on the current Apple board.

 

[Pepe4life]

Sounds like damage control to me

 

[AustinIllini]

A lot of the article is probably accurate, but it's important that Tim Cook sticks up for his team and the company he runs.
[doublepost=1562017324][/doublepost]

Amidst these claims and counterclaims, we need to hear from Jony himself. What say you, Mr. Ive?

You won't hear much from him. He has always been the quietest of Apple's chief brass and has horrible stage fright.

 

[Attirex]

...and apple's journey down the drain begins in the earnest. /wavesgoodbye

 

[Abazigal]

That’s Macrumours in a nutshell. Their loathing for Apple now is so great that they can’t resist the siren’s call of an Apple hit piece, even though it’s clearly fake news.

 

[tridley68]

Cookie backtracking as usual.

 

[IPPlanMan]

Is one of those projects a reliable laptop keyboard?

That would blow me away.

 

[iBreatheApple]

My impression:

Customers - please keep buying our products to perpetuate , and it’ll all be fine. Stakeholders - we are going to keep focusing on maximizing profits rather than what made Apple thrive, don’t worry.

- Tim Apple

It’s weird to think we could be in the era or close to one in which Apple has peaked and does not continue to grow.

 

[now i see it]

when a CEO, any CEO defends the company they work for, does it carry any weight at all? Even a teensy weensy bit? Of course not. They're the company's number one cheerleader and never would put things in a bad light.

For example, all we get is the usual T.C. "fantastic products in the pipeline" variant

The projects they're working on will blow you away.

 

[nouveau_redneck]

This is becoming soap opera. He left the company. It happens.

In the end, this is really not that big of a deal for Apple. They will continue to thrive.

 

[Logiarius]

My impression:

Customers - please keep buying our products, and it’ll all be fine. Stakeholders - we are going to keep focusing on maximizing profits rather than the what made Apple thrive, don’t worry.

- Tim Apple

So... profit does not make company thrive...? Then, what is the purpose of the company. I thought all company was made to well... make money?

 

[Mr. Dee]

Here’s what happened, Tim put a lot of trust in Jony after he fired Scott Forstall. But Tim felt like he probably gave Ive a bit too much power: iOS 7 wasn’t a hit out the gate had major UI issues, 2013 Mac Pro which thermally designed itself into a thermal problem, the late arrival of the 2012 iMac; the Apple Watch first gen was pretty bad and waste in making a gold version without a clear vision of its intended purpose probably cost Apple a lot of money. Bend gate with iPhone 6 was probably another big one that probably pushed Tim into taking back some control.

Cool I believe felt like Jony was probably manipulating both him and the company in the wrong direction. I also think Cook felt like Jony could easily **** this up for everyone and decided that maybe it was best his energies put towards training new leadership, emeritus role, attending product launches and blessing products with narration.

This would at least give the impression to investors and users everything is ok.

To be honest, it’s a mess right now, because there isn’t that one voice reign things in and slap the operations and MBA when they try to weasel their way in.

Steve Jobs let Jony get away with some things consciously partly due to his love for him (G4 Cube, Hi-fi iPod,), but he knew when to tell him and the team you are losing the script.

I think that is what Jony truly yearns for and is missing at Apple: Vision, Guidance and Direction.

A bean counter and human rights activist jetting all over the world to collect awards and do speeches can’t give Jony that.