Forstall and Browett out

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apple® today announced executive management changes that will encourage even more collaboration between the Company's world-class hardware, software and services teams. As part of these changes, Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi will add more responsibilities to their roles. Apple also announced that Scott Forstall will be leaving Apple next year and will serve as an advisor to CEO Tim Cook in the interim.

Additionally, John Browett is leaving Apple. A search for a new head of Retail is underway and in the interim, the Retail team will report directly to Tim Cook. More at Apple.

Forstall is not a huge surprise following Apple Maps and Browett should never have been employed by Apple in the first place. Was never going to fit in.

Comments

[Peter M]

Browett leaving is not a surprise. As for Forstall,it IS a surprise, but one I've secretly wanted for quite some time. I love iOS, but want to see it take a new direction. iOS6 and iOS5 felt like downgrades - I reckon OS4 was the peak, so far. iOS6, especially, is just pointless. I can tap out vibrate patterns like a drumkit, but I can't choose a default browser or maps app. Says it all, really.

I've thought Forstall was the problem for some time. I hope his replacement knuckles down and addresses the big issues with iOS.

[Graham]

@ Peter. Completely agree with you about the operating system. iOS 4.2.1 was by far the best for me. Now my 3GS and iPod Touch 4G are really sluggish on iOS5. I have tried downgrading them but, in spite of various attempts, I always get a restore error. Jailbreaking helps a bit because I can turn off multi-tasking but my devices are nowhere near as fast as they were before.