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Apple's Jonathan Ive Considering Moving Back to England?
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Why?
He's been living abroad for 19 years, he probably just wants to go back home to be close to his family and friends. I doubt if he's too worried about the money and I can't see him being out of work for too long if he does leave Apple.
If this article is true his contract is expiring, they'll have absolutely no power over him.
Imagine if he did go and work for some other tech company.
I think he wanted to leave 3 years ago.
That's why he has the $30m golden handcuff deal in the first place.
He was probably fed-up with SJ and slow design development cycle in 2008, but they offered him a stack of cash he couldn't turn down.
That's why he has the $30m golden handcuff deal in the first place.
He was probably fed-up with SJ and slow design development cycle in 2008, but they offered him a stack of cash he couldn't turn down.
Apple should create a holographic, virtual neighborhood in Cupertino called iEngland, where Jonny Ives can live.
The only requirements should be, iEngland should be compatible with OSX, and include really good fish and chips.
The only requirements should be, iEngland should be compatible with OSX, and include really good fish and chips.
They could have a design house in the UK - you'd only need a small number of staff & devices so it could be quite secure. However, they would need an in-house production line for small-scale runs - they wouldn't want prototype designs built elsewhere & being shipped in - and that would just be too awkward and expensive. Apple already build prototype devices and ship them around the world for testing, but these DVT/EVT devices are typically ugly metal/plastic boxes that wouldn't interest anyone. The prototype designs would be much more sensitive.
And also - Apple wants everything centred in Cupertino.
Actually not true. Positions such as his normally have end of contract non-compete clauses with time limits as to when he can go to a company competitive with Apple. Basically to allow his insight as to Apple's strategy to become dated and irrelevant. Additionally he will be bound from divulging or recreating any intellectual property he has been working on for Apple. You can bet his contract with Apple is about as thick as the US tax code
Personally, I think Jobs will not let Johnny leave. I think if this is what he really wants though, then Apple will be forced to give him what he wants, or give him a private jet at least.
Johnny Ive is such a hugely important person at Apple when it comes to design of future products, that if this does happen it would be a very sad day for Apple, and for its consumers.
Johnny Ive is such a hugely important person at Apple when it comes to design of future products, that if this does happen it would be a very sad day for Apple, and for its consumers.
Actually not true. Positions such as his normally have end of contract non-compete clauses with time limits as to when he can go to a company competitive with Apple. Basically to allow his insight as to Apple's strategy to become dated and irrelevant. Additionally he will be bound from divulging or recreating any intellectual property he has been working on for Apple. You can bet his contract with Apple is about as thick as the US tax code
I was thinking the same thing, but California CNC's are tricky.
Actually not true. Positions such as his normally have end of contract non-compete clauses with time limits as to when he can go to a company competitive with Apple. Basically to allow his insight as to Apple's strategy to become dated and irrelevant. Additionally he will be bound from divulging or recreating any intellectual property he has been working on for Apple. You can bet his contract with Apple is about as thick as the US tax code
Actually, non-competes are not legal in California. They've been ruled un-enforceable time and time again. Some companies include them in their agreements anyway, but they have no muscle whatsoever. An iron clad confidentiality clause, however, can be setup to outlive the contract by up to a year, I believe. It would be hard for him to lean on his experience with Apple in that first year without spilling the beans on things, which is something most genuine employers would be concerned about. They don't want to be sued by Apple because they hired this guy.
Its been said here already, he has more than enough money. Where he lands next is probably least on his mind. He can afford not to work for as long as he chooses, most likely, so that's not even all that important.
I'd hate to see Apple lose a key employee, but I think the company needs to show it can survive without him as well. If a company really, truly hinges on just a handful of guys, its dangerously on the brink of death, then.
Maybe not for the iMac, MacBooks, iPods and iPhones. We need jonny ive for them.
But for apple mice..... give someone else a go, maybe then we will have a mouse we would love to use and not one that hurts your hand. Using a computer screen as a touch screen would be less painful than any apple mouse to use.
Just saying.
With that said, he's a tremendous bloke. The world would not be the same without him.
I admire his love of aluminum.
Sounds like nothing more than a negotiating tactic. England vs. the bay area...seriously? If it's widely known you like SF, you have a lot less leverage with your next contract. Float out there you are willing to leave and you get a much better offer.
But would it be enforceable in a foreign jurisdiction?
It could very well be. With Jobs out sick, the timing is perfect. All we need is a stock dip this morning based on the rumours and he'll be in a strong negotiating position ("look BOD, even the market thinks I'm worth it!"). It saves him having to haggle over money (distasteful to many Brits) if the stock market speaks for him. Nice ploy, if so.
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I don't think Ive is " About" money and besides after the first million the rest is showing off.
If apple had any sense they would let him go to England and pay him for his design talent which he can do wherever he is.
It sounds more than just negotiation maybe he's being pushed out by new dark forces at apple?? Hope not though...
Come home Johnny as Jessie B says " Forget about the Price Tag"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI
If apple had any sense they would let him go to England and pay him for his design talent which he can do wherever he is.
It sounds more than just negotiation maybe he's being pushed out by new dark forces at apple?? Hope not though...
Come home Johnny as Jessie B says " Forget about the Price Tag"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI
I really have to wonder how many of have a grasp of the design process? You seem to all think Ive Invented all those products. He designed the Look and feel, folks, not every aspect of the things. And the current look and feel has become so simplistic ANY industrial design grad could carry on the line. Designing the look & feel of a music player with hints lifted from older products does not a Multi billion dollar company CEO make.
That is true, but Ive is a unique designer. I agree with others here that there are a lot of talented designers out there, but it is Ive's design philosophy that separates him from many of the others.
Look at all the other PC and computer manufacturers out there. I'm sure their designers are talented too, but most of them look fussy, tacky, with pointless details. I have yet to see another laptop with the elegance of design as the current unibody MBP for example. Ive pared everything down completely. I do not know how the design could be made any simpler. What other designer would have thought of making the sleep light shine through holes that are so small you can barely see them even if you look closely, so it looks like nothing is there until you close the lid when the light comes on? It is fine details like that that separate Ive from the crowd.
On the whole though this news story will be something of nothing. The papers make it sound like a huge issue, but it will simply be something to be thrashed out in any new contract. Apple knows how valuable he is (and I bet there are a number of rivals who would be only too glad to have him design for them) and he knows it.
What did stand out for me though is how hard the guy works. He apparently does a 70hr week, and only gets three weeks off a year. One week of that he dedicates to giving courses at the University he graduated from. That's dedication.
I am an engineer with tremendous respect for good industrial design.
Sorry but you have grossly underestimated his and his teams design talent.
"Team" is the operative word. As has been said, Apple hires talent. A lot of it. There are many on the team who have had their future vision shaped by this man. Not only is it not hard to continue on with his design philosophy and style, but anyone who doesn't understand that there is probably a well laid path for the forseeable future is naive. Companies like Apple are already looking well beyond iPhone 5 and iPad 2. Apple will be just fine with or without Ive.
Ive is awesome beyond words but he is the VP not the head honcho of design. Besides, we have been to overwhelmed by online ************ about who does what at Apple and its so-called significance to the company. In reality, we don't know sh** about how Apple works. Nothing!!!!
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Jeeze oh Petes! Let the man spend time where he wants (with friends and family)...perhaps Ives is taking a look at Job's workaholic lifestyle and realizing its not worth it. Go live Jonny!
If the report is true, he values what his wife wants.
Besides wanting to drive on the left again and drink warm beer with fish and chips, he has enough money to take a break and recharge and then take a look of what he wants to tackle next.
He also does have a point in that the education in USA is just plain bad with a few exceptions and wherever one looks the educational budgets are being cut more and more. (Not that he couldn't afford private schools for his kids)
It is easier to become a world citizen out of Europe or other nations.
Life at Apple will go on.
The industry is IMO very close to having totally matured as far as form follows function.
The next advance will be speed based (faster lightpeak, faster internet, faster chips, more cloud and smaller devices to be more mobile. etc.etc.
There is also a point at which smaller devices are too small, so voice commands here we come.
That Dick Tracy watch is not that far away