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Apple's Hiring of an Outsider is Out of Character
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Well, Tim Cook is gay, and I always thought Ive was as well for some reason.
Jony is handsome, and well groomed. That's enough for some of us to assume (or hope) that he's gay.
The fact that he has a wife and two sons, however, does reduce the probability that he bats for the gay team.
Right, because your ethnicity or gender has anything to do with your performance.
If someone is the best person for the job then they should hire them regardless of gender or ethnicity.
Yeah and only white males seem to get those positions. Minorities and women must suck at what they do. Hmmm...
I'm assuming they meant promoted to SVP? Jony Ive worked for Jon Rubinsten until he basically told Jobs "it's him or me". When Ruby left in 2006 Ive and Tony Fadell were promoted to SVP. I'm assuming Scott Forstall worked under Avie Tevanian or Bertrand Serlet. He didn't show up as a SVP until mid-2008. Same with Bob Mansfield who didn't show up on Apple's website as a SVP until late 2008. Though I'm not sure of he ever reported to Steve directly. I always assumed he reported to Tim Cook.
Hiring an outsider may be out of character for Apple but it makes sense and also shows that Tim Cook is taking a broader view of their go to market strategy. Cook may be concerned about a balkanization of their retail efforts; reliance on a false comfort zone without looking beyond the existing, loyal market. I see this as a plus in terms of reaching a broader market and I think it's a good decision. Whether this is the right person or not remains to be seen but it is a wise strategy.
He married in 1987 so If he bats for the other side he's been living a lie for a long time.
I hope it works for Ron. He is a class act. Your comment is spot on. My wife thought of Target when she saw the new JCP Logo. It will be interesting. Penney's has an older base customer that loves to receive their "coupons" in the mail.
Pretty sure that will stop with Ron. He will need to bring in the younger customer. The future Penney's customer will need to be email aware.
Personally, I like what I'm seeing. The 3 tiered pricing is interesting.
Browett was clearly hired for his influence outside the US. Look at him not as someone who is going to change Apple Retail, but a person who keeps the Train on the Tracks. You will see more automation under John. Just what, is still unknown. My money is heavy use of NFC in Apple Retail in the future.
Probably going to clash with Jonny a bit though.
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Valid point. Very few female Apple Retail Store Managers also. Apple needs to improve in this area.
On a somewhat on topic note, news hit that Ron Johnson hired Ellen Degeneres as the new J.C. Penney spokesperson. Now groups such as "NOM," the "AFA" and "One Million Moms" are threatening J.C. Penney and Johnson for their stance against the LGBT community.
In support of Johnson's work at Apple in equal rights and his new ventures at J. C. Penney, I made a call in support of their move. I can't believe that something like this happens today.
I know politics and such do not belong on front page threads, but I felt this too important to not mention so sorry mods if I did breach forum rules.
In support of Johnson's work at Apple in equal rights and his new ventures at J. C. Penney, I made a call in support of their move. I can't believe that something like this happens today.
I know politics and such do not belong on front page threads, but I felt this too important to not mention so sorry mods if I did breach forum rules.
Cheap salesmen/women trying to flog as much stuff as possible, who will say anything to succeed, is EXACTLY the attitude of the personnel at my local Apple store in Ann Arbor --- not to mention, unknowledgeable about mac hardware...
Apple is going down the drain
And that is why you contradict yourself.
Execs are paid on performance, in his prev. employment this exec did poorly, everyone will tell you his previous employers had worse service and merchandising at the end of his tenure.
So it's perfectly proper to say the poor shopping experiences in the UK are a reflection on this guy. His job was to make it better - supposedly at his interview he suggested that the best experience was his forte...
I laughed at your "expose" on the the hiring process - because if they are as good as you say, perhaps they should have asked a few Dixons shoppers about how crappy those stores are - under this hiree's charge. Those are the tests Apple touts for its retail operation. It's the customer experience right? This guy helped turn shoppng into a nightmare.
Jobs wanted Apple to be different, higher end, classier.
This hiree on past performance promises to undo all of that...
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Cheap salesmen/women trying to flog as much stuff as possible, who will say anything to succeed, is EXACTLY the attitude of the personnel at my local Apple store in Ann Arbor --- not to mention, unknowledgeable about mac hardware...
Give it till the end of summer. John will cut out the dead wood that has emerged since Ron's departure.
He is not warm, fuzzy, or gentle.
Yesterday I laid into this pick as a bad one based on Browett's inability while CEO (you know, the guy who tells everyone else what to do, sets company policy, and introduces new ideas) to actually change Dixons in five years of trying. He's got a bad track record, and his decision making skills are in question too - why go to Tesco's (unless he thought it would be easy to shine with his Cambridge degree against promoted from within managers who often began work as shelf stackers)? Why move from there to Dixons (unless he thought it shouldn't be difficult to move Dixons from the bottom of the popularity list so the upside was big - saviour of Dixons - and the downside small - a blind man could see what needs changing)? And why stay at Dixons for FIVE years making no progress? Loyal, but foolish?
But put that to one side, look at things from Tim Cook's point of view. Apple have very little knowledge of the world outside of the US. Their iTunes Store policy of limiting sales on a country by country basis is limiting, while that of Amazon is expansive; their inability to use the correct languages in their websites, or even to have English as a fallback, is short-sighted. They don't even get the names of National Currencies correct - and that's so EASY to check on the internet using International Standards.
I forget how many times I have highlighted various issues with Apple's International offerings by sending in emails and feedback notes to them. Maybe someone got the message. They certainly need to understand how the EU works better than they do now. Apple is nowhere near as popular in Europe as it is in the US - not because people don't like Apple, but because there is no effort put in by Apple to do anything about it. Maybe getting a European in is a good idea - after all, the EU has a bigger population than the US and is the world's biggest economy when taken as a whole. And it's a lot richer than China.
So, maybe, just maybe Tim Cook decided now the US stores are ubiquitous, but the European ones practically non existent - one store per 10 million population in Germany, one per 6 million in France, with one per 2 million in the UK being the densest set up. Eastern Europe, and most of the smaller rich countries of Northern Europe have none at all.
I'm still not convinced that anyone can learn anything Apple needs to know from the likes of Dixons or Tescos, and Browett has a lot to prove, with no elbow room or safety net. His first mistake could be his last.
But put that to one side, look at things from Tim Cook's point of view. Apple have very little knowledge of the world outside of the US. Their iTunes Store policy of limiting sales on a country by country basis is limiting, while that of Amazon is expansive; their inability to use the correct languages in their websites, or even to have English as a fallback, is short-sighted. They don't even get the names of National Currencies correct - and that's so EASY to check on the internet using International Standards.
I forget how many times I have highlighted various issues with Apple's International offerings by sending in emails and feedback notes to them. Maybe someone got the message. They certainly need to understand how the EU works better than they do now. Apple is nowhere near as popular in Europe as it is in the US - not because people don't like Apple, but because there is no effort put in by Apple to do anything about it. Maybe getting a European in is a good idea - after all, the EU has a bigger population than the US and is the world's biggest economy when taken as a whole. And it's a lot richer than China.
So, maybe, just maybe Tim Cook decided now the US stores are ubiquitous, but the European ones practically non existent - one store per 10 million population in Germany, one per 6 million in France, with one per 2 million in the UK being the densest set up. Eastern Europe, and most of the smaller rich countries of Northern Europe have none at all.
I'm still not convinced that anyone can learn anything Apple needs to know from the likes of Dixons or Tescos, and Browett has a lot to prove, with no elbow room or safety net. His first mistake could be his last.
Beat me too it. No ethnicity or gender diversity. And don't tell me they're the only ones who are most qualified.
I thought this was the 21st century. Obviously it's still the 20th or maybe even the 19th at Apple.
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Yep....never heard of the 'adam's apple'?
Some background on why there aren't a lot of women tech CEOs:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/207...ineering-e-e-college-princeton-mit-female.htm
I'm not sure about apples, but nuts are. Melons are female for sure, as is a nice pear.
It is rough and being a p***k is usually a requisite skill for those seeking power at the top. Executive level promotion? Welcome to the jungle.
No, just among the most talented in the industry.
It's cutthroat out there, and Apple has changed the face of consumer tech several times over, commands the lion's share of profits, and is about to embark on even more growth over the next few years - thanks to their highly effective p***k-centric strategy. Those who can't play by Apple's book need not apply, obviously.
We don't need "soft" and "kind" if it doesn't contribute to the iPad's awesomeness and the kind of cash it pulls in. Apple knows this. Consumers appreciate it.
The strategy - as it stands today - is working like a charm, and Apple messes with it at their own peril.
While hiring Dixons CEO is out of character, Only time will tell whether he's the man for the job. So far Tim Cook is running a good ship, why doubt his judgement now.
If this was a bad choice, it will certainly show very quickly. Also would this guy have taken the job knowing how demanding it is if he didn't feel he was capable? Remember, screwing up at Apple would not be good for his future career.
If this was a bad choice, it will certainly show very quickly. Also would this guy have taken the job knowing how demanding it is if he didn't feel he was capable? Remember, screwing up at Apple would not be good for his future career.
Exactly, it's not Apples fault few women are interested in Tech.
They have all My support but for reasons pointed out in the link there are few studying Tech.
I studied Electronics and I remember only one girl in My time, but that's 30-35 years ago.
A Big NO NO
According to Jim Collins, hiring from the outside to do something "Amazing" is a bad idea. See "Good to Great" and "How the Mighty Fall". Although Apple is already "Great".
According to Jim Collins, hiring from the outside to do something "Amazing" is a bad idea. See "Good to Great" and "How the Mighty Fall". Although Apple is already "Great".
They've hired the CEO of Dixons? Dixons, the crappest computer/electronic retail chain in the UK? Dixons, the chain that makes the employees at PC World look like UNIX engineers with multiple PhDs?
Good. Lord.
I can only assume that he's going to do the exact opposite to Apple retail stores as he has done to Dixons stores.
Good. Lord.
I can only assume that he's going to do the exact opposite to Apple retail stores as he has done to Dixons stores.