Tim Cook Faced an 'Insurrection' Following Announcement of Bob Mansfield's Retirement

[MacRumors]

Earlier this year, Apple announced that hardware chief Bob Mansfield would be retiring, staying on for several months as iPad hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio transitioned into the broader role overseeing the company's entire hardware effort. But just two months later, Apple announced that Mansfield would be staying on, retaining his senior vice president title but without a specific role other than to "work on future products".

A new report from Bloomberg Businessweek profiling Apple one year after the death of Steve Jobs reveals the backstory behind Mansfield's reversal, noting that Apple CEO Tim Cook found himself facing an "insurrection" from Apple employees following Mansfield's retirement announcement.

According to three people familiar with the sequence of events, several senior engineers on Mansfield's team vociferously complained to Cook about reporting to his replacement, Dan Riccio, who they felt was unprepared for the magnitude of the role. In response, Cook approached Mansfield and offered him an exorbitant package of cash and stock worth around $2 million a month to stay on at Apple as an adviser and help manage the hardware engineering team.

Officially, Apple's hardware engineering group is now under the oversight of Riccio, so it is unclear exactly how Mansfield and Riccio are working together on their projects. Both executives report directly to Cook, and it is unknown how long Mansfield intends to remain with Apple.

Article Link: Tim Cook Faced an 'Insurrection' Following Announcement of Bob Mansfield's Retirement

 

[kjs862]

Things with Apple haven't sit right with me lately.

 

[MH01]

2 million a month.....WOW!

 

[TrentS]

2 Million A Month!?

2 Million a month!!?? That's a lot of dough to stay on! Dang!!!



Mansfield: "If they would have just offerred me 2 weeks more vacation, I would have took it!" ha ha

 

[Hakone]

"We won't answer to anyone but Shrek"

 

[Tiger8]

Things with Apple haven't sit right with me lately.

Why? All smart companies do that for their most valuable employees; they can't stop anyone from quitting or retiring, but what they can do is keep them as advisors or consultants onboard.

 

[IJ Reilly]

2 million a month.....WOW!

As an advisor, no less. I wonder how Apple employees feel about it now.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I'm actually surprised it was a monetary decision. I figured it was a vacation/retirement/new opportunities one and no amount would sway him.

 

[Sora]

Can't say this is the "beginning of the end", but it surely isn't business as usual. Things are definitely changing - who knows if it's for the better or worse.

 

[JDee]

That is a lot of money.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Sucks that people's personal lives and decisions get exploited like this. It's nobody's business.

 

[Tiger8]

"We won't answer to anyone but Shrek"

I hope I become 'Shrek' one day and be worth 2 million dollars a month, when I'm about to retire...

 

[EvilEvil]

Anyone else think Bob looks like Chris Farley?

 

[Jsameds]

They offered him $1 million but he doubled down

 

[Ultimedia]

Things with Apple haven't sit right with me lately.

It's a company not a charity, this is how contracts work and it makes total sense to me.

 

[Nevzorus]

I want to work with Apple too

 

[BornAgainApple]

Good for you Bob

 

[Matt-M]

http://verynicewebsite.net/2012/08/top-10-suggested-bob-mansfield-job-titles/

 

[hbkslick1016]

Sucks that people's personal lives and decisions get exploited like this. It's nobody's business.

When you work for a publicly traded company it is

 

[MonkeySee....]

I like this. If you have spare cash, keep your prized assets

 

[TrentS]

What The-!!??

Sucks that people's personal lives and decisions get exploited like this. It's nobody's business.

Dude, Apple is a "publicly traded company". What do you mean it is nobody's business?!

 

[commander.data]

The joys of company politics.

 

[Saladinos]

In before Steve will never allow this. Although he probably wouldn't have lol

Actually, I think it's exactly what Steve would have done. Steve spoke a lot about hiring and how keeping the best people working for you is important.

 

[mike-sr29]

Good for you Bob

Exactly my sentiments. Bob rocks and he is being recognized for his critical role to the company.

Steve most definitely would have allowed this.

 

[daneoni]

$24m for an Exec in a $600+Bn company is nothing. Especially if you're keeping hold of an apparently really smart guy as a result.