Apple SVP Bob Mansfield Leaving Exec Team; Will Work on 'Special Projects' Reporting to Tim Cook [Updated]

[mattaaron]

I can see it now... Apple right now is preparing to lay him off on Monday and he doesn't even know it, but now he does because he just read this article!

 

[Rend It]

Keep in mind that this could simply be Apple preparing for Mansfield's departure in 2014.

Remove him from leadership role and keep him around long enough that he isn't privy to the latest plans. Then, he can be released into the wild without knowing too many strategic details.

They basically did the same thing with Forstall.

 

[Mr. Gates]

If you think THIS is bad, just look at the re-org ar Microsoft.

This isn't just a bad event, it's a sign of the times. The top 1-8% ....as rich as they are , are only going to buy enough toys for themselves.

That's why Apple finally decided to go budget with this new plastic iPhone.

The top tier exec's at every company are dwindling

 

[Georgij]

Bob was a SVP of Hardware Engineering before he announced his retirement in 2012. Dan Ricco took his place.

And I think that the most that have been done in latest hardware engineering in Apple was by Mark Papermaster (now at AMD) who left in 2010 because of issues with Apple's internal politics and corporate culture (as it was said, in my opinion it was Scott's fault).

 

[Number 9]

A paucity of facts, not much to go on.

 

[Michael Jordan]

Hmm not sure what to think of this news. We all knew he was going to leave Apple by 2014. But it would be really weird if he's leaving in the middle of 2013 with the upgraded Macbook Pro's, Mac Pro, iMacs, Mavericks, iPhone, iPads still to come.

 

[tbrand7]

This would have never happened under Steve!

 

[macs4nw]

Last year, Apple announced that Mansfield would be retiring, but several months later announced he would instead be staying at the company. Later, it leaked that Tim Cook had faced an "insurrection" after Mansfield announced his retirement, and Cook gave him an extremely generous benefits package.

At the time, it was reported that Mansfield had committed to stay at Apple through at least 2014, influenced in no small part by the departure of former iOS chief Scott Forstall.

Mansfield has been instrumental in Apple's success in recent years, overseeing the development of the very successful MacBook Air notebooks, as well as recent iPhone and iPad designs.

Article Link: Apple Senior Vice President Bob Mansfield Removed From Leadership Webpage

Wasn't part of that incentive for him to stay, stocks that mature at a future date, contingent upon him staying until such future date?

Maybe this is one of those website glitches or an oversight of some sort, but if his departure is confirmed in the near future, I will be sorry to see him go.
He appears to be a solid guy, and I consider him one of the 'old guard', a man with, in addition to great technical expertise, some sobering 'second thought', to prevent APPLE from 'going off the rail'.....

 

[Georgij]

This would have never happened under Steve!

Under Steve Tony Fadell (father of iPod) and Mark Papermaster left (Hardware). Also Bertrand Serlet left few months before Tim was named CEO.

 

[Rico31262]

It's a trap!

A trick to throw off the rumor mags. Actually he was promoted to Greeter at HopStop.

 

[cdmoore74]

He must have used the new Nexus 7.

 

[appleisking]

Under Steve Tony Fadell (father of iPod) and Mark Papermaster left (Hardware). Also Bertrand Serlet left few months before Tim was named CEO.

Don't you know better than to respond to comments like that by now?

 

[kockgunner]

It's going to be interesting to see how Apple does with all the old employees moving on. Apple is no longer a startup and the people who have been there in the beginning are naturally going to make way for new minds. There are many smart people in the world, so I'm sure they will do fine.

 

[Georgij]

They would probably hire Chandra Rathakrishnan XD

 

[EnderTW]

I think heads are rolling because no one expected a retina like screen In the nexus 7. Something tells me next ipadmini won't have retina

 

[GenesisST]

Enjoy your 2nd retirement, Bob! See you in 3 months!

 

[smulji]

I think heads are rolling because no one expected a retina like screen In the nexus 7. Something tells me next ipadmini won't have retina

There's no way they're firing him just for that. Definitely not someone of his caliber.

 

[damir00]

What was the share price when they gave him the options?

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I think heads are rolling because no one expected a retina like screen In the nexus 7.

Don't think so - everybody new the Nexus 7 was going retina this summer.

The shock is that Apple didn't.

 

[kas23]

Anyone who tries to spin this as "just normal turnover within the industry, nothing to be excited over" would be dead wrong. Mansfield is probably second to Ive in what he's added to Apple. Not a good thing if he leaves.

 

[billystlyes]

He probably took a job with Samsung or Asus. Working for Apple is boring these days.

 

[smulji]

Anyone who tries to spin this as "just normal turnover within the industry, nothing to be excited over" would be dead wrong. Mansfield is probably second to Ive in what he's added to Apple. Not a good thing if he leaves.

I would go as far as to say that what he's added is more important.

 

[cclloyd]

"Should I stay or should I go"

Now that's stuck in my head. Thanks a lot. You ruined the song for me cause I'll have to listen to it on repeat for the next 72 hours.

 

[Rogifan]

I thought 9to5Mac just reported that he was spearheading Apple's wearables project. I hope this was just a whoopse on someone's part and he'll be back there tomorrow.

 

[darster]

They are just updating his web page. On Monday, Bob Mansfield will be CEO.

 

[smulji]

I thought 9to5Mac just reported that he was spearheading Apple's wearables project. I hope this was just a whoopse on someone's part and he'll be back there tomorrow.

yeah, you and me both.