LOS ANGELES—It wasn’t that long ago for Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts was being talked about as a potential successor to current CEO Tim Cook…
LOS ANGELES—It wasn’t that long ago for Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts was being talked about as a potential successor to current CEO Tim Cook.
The former Burberry’s CEO joined Apple five years ago to take over its retail division. On Tuesday, Apple announced she was out of a job, with such little fanfare that the headline of the release was about her successor, Deirdre O’Brien, being named the Senior Vice President of Retail + People.
O’Brien is a 31-year Apple veteran who is currently in charge of human resources.
In the release, Ahrendts said she was leaving Apple for « new personal and professional pursuits. »
Daniel Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, said the move is a big « surprise, » considering how many thought she was the « heir apparent » to Cook.
