Executive Shuffles —
His deputy Greg Joswiak will assume Schiller’s previous position.
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Apple’s Phil Schiller discussing new iPhones on stage at one of the events he will continue to oversee.
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His successor Greg Joswiak has appeared at Apple’s events too.
In addition to announcing new iMac models this morning, Apple took to its newsroom PR blog today to announce that prominent executive Phil Schiller will step down from his role as VP of Worldwide Marketing. However, he will continue on as an “Apple Fellow,” and Schiller will still oversee various aspects of the App Store and Apple’s events. Schiller has worked at Apple since 1987.
Greg Joswiak, one of Schiller’s lieutenants and a 20-year Apple veteran, will assume Schiller’s prior role and title. He is known as “Joz” to his colleagues, and he previously led marketing for some specific Apple products, such as the first iPhone.
Apple executives provided two public statements. First, CEO Tim Cook said:
Phil has helped make Apple the company it is today and his contributions are broad, vast, and run deep. In this new role he will continue to provide the incredible thought partnership, and guidance that have defined his decades at Apple. Joz’s many years of leadership in the Product Marketing organization make him perfectly suited to this new role and will ensure a seamless transition at a moment when the team is engaged in such important and exciting work. I’m thrilled that the whole executive team will benefit from his collaboration, ideas, and energy.
And here’s the statement from Schiller himself:
It has been a dream come true for me to work at Apple, on so many products I love, with all of these great friends — Steve, Tim, and so many more. I first started at Apple when I was 27, this year I turned 60 and it is time for some planned changes in my life. I’ll keep working here as long as they will have me, I bleed six colors, but I also want to make some time in the years ahead for my family, friends, and a few personal projects I care deeply about.
Apple has seen some other prominent executive departures over the past couple of years, including former design chief Jony Ive (who like Schiller said his involvement would continue in a reduced capacity) and retail head Angela Ahrendts.
One of the roles that Schiller has held and that it appears he will continue to perform is leading the App Store’s approval and submission process. That aspect of Apple’s business has faced criticism of late, with multiple controversies and regulatory explorations. Some critics believe Apple’s enforcement of various rules in the App Store is overly restrictive, and others still claim the company’s policies and revenue share are anticompetitive.
Apple—often through interviews or statements given by Schiller himself—has made the case that it has enacted and enforced its policies to ensure quality user experiences.
Listing image by Apple
