Global Security Chief John Theriault Reportedly Leaves Apple

9to5Mac reports that Apple's vice president of global security John Theriault has left the company, marking yet another key executive departure this year.

While the reasons for Theriault's departure and his destination appear to be unconfirmed, speculation naturally turns toward this summer's loss of another iPhone prototype. Apple has received some criticism over its handling of the case, which involved Apple security personnel being escorted by San Francisco police to a home to where the device had been traced. Apple's security personnel conducted an unsuccessful search of the home, with the homeowner claiming to have believed that they were police officers and not private security agents.

theriault linkedin
John Theriault's LinkedIn profile

Theriault, a former FBI agent and Pfizer vice president, was profiled just two months ago for his role overseeing Apple's anti-counterfeiting efforts. That work has taken on increased importance with the proliferation of fake Apple products and even fake Apple retail stores popping up in a number of countries. The most publicized location for these counterfeiting operations has been China, where Apple has been stepping up its anti-counterfeiting efforts in support of its own increasing presence in the country.

Update: AllThingsD confirms that Theriault has left Apple, and while the reason for his departure is officially said to be retirement, sources indicate that the circumstances surrounding the latest lost iPhone case are indeed the root cause.

Top Rated Comments

jca24 Avatar
155 months ago
I see all these people leaving Apple, and the new 5th Avenue cube looks like a futuristic mosque from the Middle East.

Hence, Apple is becoming Walmart. :)

you have made a lot of dumb posts before, but this one is the dumbest!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdowns Avatar
155 months ago
Why are so many top execs leaving? This is the third one in the last few weeks, if my count is correct.

He is hardly a "top"executive.

Apple is becoming Walmart!

For the life of me, I can't make any sense of your post. What the hell does it mean?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleScruff1 Avatar
155 months ago
Just a shot in the dark, but that might be a reason for his departure right there. Apple has this habit of keeping the best people. Looks like Theriault no longer belonged in that echelon, because he was lousy at his job. People usually get canned for that, you know.



If it's taken on "increased" importance, Theriault might not have been up to the task. A decision was probably made as a result.

We already know that Cook is doing some re-shuffling, promotions, and general house-cleaning. These activities were so conspicuous that there were numerous articles about it over the web a few days back. Maybe Theriault just got tossed into the dustbin.

Next!

I'd like to hear more of what you know about his job and what he was personally responsible for. Does your position in the company give you privy to behind the scenes dirt on management? Do they consult with you on these types of decisions? Thanks.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applefan289 Avatar
155 months ago
Do you try to outdo yourself every day or does it come naturally?
A little bit of both. :)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AdeFowler Avatar
155 months ago
Why are so many top execs leaving? This is the third one in the last few weeks, if my count is correct.

I'm not sure he left or was shown the door.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jamesryanbell Avatar
155 months ago
Why are so many top execs leaving? This is the third one in the last few weeks, if my count is correct.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 With Bug Fixes, Plus iOS 17.0.2 for iPhone 15 Models

Thursday September 21, 2023 10:28 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 updates for the iPhone and the iPad, adding bug fixes to the new software. The iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 updates come just a few days after Apple launched iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. The software, which is build 21A340, can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. There is a...
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

iPhone 15 Models Feature New Setting to Strictly Prevent Charging Beyond 80%

Tuesday September 19, 2023 2:04 pm PDT by
All of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models feature a new battery health setting that prevents the devices from charging beyond 80% at all times when enabled, as confirmed by The Verge's Allison Johnson during a Q&A session today. The new setting is separate from the pre-existing Optimized Battery Charging feature on iPhones, which intelligently delays charging past 80% until a more...
emojipedia 15 1 emoji

Emoji Coming to Future iOS 17 Update Include Shaking Head, Brown Mushroom, Lime, Phoenix and More

Tuesday September 19, 2023 12:43 pm PDT by
As Apple was announcing new iPhone models last week, the Unicode Consortium was officially approving new emoji characters that are set to be added to smartphones starting in 2024. Mockup of new emoji from Emojipedia Approved Unicode 15.1 emoji include phoenix, lime, an edible mushroom, shaking head vertically (as in a "yes" nod), shaking head horizontally (a "no" head shake), and broken...
iPhone 15 Pro Max 5x Optical Zoom Limit Feature 1

Apple Explains Why iPhone 15 Pro Max is Limited to 5x Optical Zoom

Wednesday September 20, 2023 9:52 am PDT by
In an interview with Numerama's Nicolas Lellouche, Apple's VP of camera software engineering Jon McCormack explained why the iPhone 15 Pro Max's tetraprism lens system is limited to 5x optical zoom, instead of 10x like on Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra. The interview is in French, so quotes below are computer translated. Apple says the Telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max features the...