Apple VP of Special Projects Paul Deneve Removed From Leadership Webpage [Update: Still at Apple]

Friday December 2, 2016 7:09 PM PST by Juli Clover
Apple this evening updated its executive profiles page to remove Paul Deneve, suggesting he may no longer be with the company or has left the executive team. Hired in 2013, Paul Deneve served as Apple's vice president of special projects, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Paul Deneve came to Apple from luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, where he served as CEO. Deneve, who joined Apple as it was working on the Apple Watch, also worked at several other luxury fashion labels like Courreges, Nina Ricci, and Lanvin.

pauldeneve
Paul Deneve's executive profile, which has now been removed from Apple's website.

During his time at Apple, Deneve has had a hand in marketing the Apple Watch. He was involved in projects like the massive floral window installation at Selfridges, and worked alongside Apple's head of retail Angela Ahrendts getting the Apple Watch in high-end boutiques around the world.

Deneve's LinkedIn page continues to list him as a vice president at Apple.

Update: According to Apple, Paul Deneve is still at the company, but is now reporting to Jeff Williams instead of Tim Cook.

Tag: Paul Deneve
70 comments


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dominiongamma
27 months ago
Was hoping Tim Cook was leaving when I saw the headline
Rating: 20 Votes
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appleCakes
27 months ago
He's leaving Apple to open room for the new position of VP of Emoji's.
Rating: 13 Votes
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avanpelt
27 months ago
Looks like Apple is finally realizing that the watch is not a fashion accessory and the people who were responsible for promoting it as such are either leaving or being shown the door. Let's face it -- it must be difficult for someone who comes from the fashion industry, as this guy does, seeing your product on sale as a Black Friday door buster at Kohl's and Target.
Rating: 12 Votes
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Pootmatoot
27 months ago
Is this because the 5 year pipeline of promised "special projects" turned out to be just a color version of the Lenovo 2010 touchbar that shreds the battery and likely has cocked up the graphics card?
Rating: 11 Votes
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flyinmac
27 months ago

He's leaving Apple to open room for the new position of VP of Emoji's.


Maybe we'll get lucky and an emoji will replace Tim. Couldn't really mess it up worse. The emoji might actually do a better job.
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Was hoping Tim Cook was leaving when I saw the headline


Don't worry. His day is coming. Future headline:

"Tim Cook drowned while driving preproduction Apple Car. Navigation unexpectedly launched car into the ocean due to Apple Maps glitch."
Rating: 7 Votes
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chrismail627
27 months ago

Was hoping Tim Cook was leaving when I saw the headline

I think that would make front page news ;) one can wish though
Rating: 7 Votes
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Bubba Satori
27 months ago

This tells me one thing: apple is not a place to retire from.

So...who's next?


I'm going all in for the Gang of Four.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_of_Four

Rating: 6 Votes
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frankgrimes
27 months ago
seriously what major innovative has Apple provided under cook? the guy is more focused on getting his hardcore political views out instead of returning Apple to his former strength. Like it or not but others are catching up.

Also I have yet to see what Ahrendts provided other than being an expensive fashion hire they should have fired her and her stupid fashion first mojo. The Apple Watch should have been more than just a phone dependent gadget.

Personally I believe Federighi is the guy , he has the knowledge, experience and is still young enough to lead Apple for years. One high end position removed time to look even higher at Yves and company
Rating: 6 Votes
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uwdude
27 months ago
It's probably more along the lines of the watches didn't catch on as a fashion item by people who buy fashion brands like they had hoped. The watches are doing ok, but still as a tech item not with the Vogue crowd. So now there probably wasn't much of a place for him if things weren't going in that direction.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Rogifan
27 months ago
According to Tim Bradshaw on Twitter he now reports to Jeff Williams not Tim Cook hence why he's no longer listed on the exec leadership page. Seems like much ado about nothing.
Rating: 5 Votes
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