One of the instrumental executives who oversaw the rise of Beats By Dre as a brand, chief marketing officer Omar Johnson, has announced that he is leaving the company on November 1 (via Fast Company).
Johnson didn't give a specific reason as to why he is leaving the company, but his departure date will mark six years since he came onboard in 2010.
Back then he was vice president of marketing before being named CMO in 2012, two years before Apple would come in and acquire the brand for $3 billion.
Working with the ad agency R/GA, Johnson helped craft some of the most well-known Beats By Dre advertisements, fueling its "transition from a curiosity to a constant presence in pop culture."
Although his departure from the company wasn't explained, Beats co-founder and current Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine commented on the announcement, describing Johnson as "one of the most talented marketing executives" he's ever met and an instrumental factor in what Beats By Dre eventually became.
In an email, Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine said, "Omar Johnson is a one of the most talented marketing executives I've ever met and we couldn't have built Beats without him. He has my support in his future endeavor."
After Johnson leaves, his former "right-hand man" Jason White will become executive vice president of marketing at Beats. Before he's gone for good, Johnson is said to focus on putting the finishing touches on two new global brand campaigns that will be debuting soon.
![Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]](https://images.macrumors.com/t/Okb7kitB_gNr6qe5Pex9nQIysD8=/112x112/article-new/2026/01/Apple-Creator-Studio-iWork-suite.jpg)
Top Rated Comments
So does that leave one other black person working at Apple?!