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Angela Ahrendts Officially Leaving Apple Today

Monday April 15, 2019 10:47 am PDT by Juli Clover
As noted in a regulatory filing from February, Apple's retail chief Angela Ahrendts is leaving the company today, with April 15 marking her last day at Apple.

Apple in early February announced that Ahrendts' role as Apple's head of retail would be ending, with Deirdre O'Brien taking over. Deirdre O'Brien was formerly Apple's vice president of people, but her title is now Senior Vice President of Retail and People as she is maintaining her current responsibilities while also overseeing Apple's retail initiatives.

Over the weekend, Apple removed Ahrendts' profile from its Apple Leadership page in preparation for her departure.

According to Apple, Ahrendts is leaving the company for "new personal and professional pursuits," though it is not clear where she plans to go after leaving Apple. Apple did not give deeper detail on the reason for her departure, but she is departing amid a significant drop in iPhone sales in China and some other emerging markets.

Ahrendts has been the head of Apple retail since she joined the company in 2014, and she has overseen the launch of the redesigned Apple Stores and customer experiences that have been rolling out across the world over the course of the last several years.

Under Ahrendts' leadership, Apple ditched the Genius Bar and instead adopted the more casual Genius Grove, cut down on third-party accessory sales, and turned its retail stores into gathering hubs with Today at Apple classes, artist performances, and more.

Prior to working at Apple, Ahrendts was the CEO of famous fashion company Burberry, and before that, she held positions at Liz Claiborne and Donna Karan. Ahrendts joined Apple at a time when Apple was experimenting with luxury products, launching the super expensive 14 karat gold Apple Watch in 2015, which never really caught on and was ultimately discontinued.

In a farewell note announcing Ahrendts departure to employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook called her "a much-loved and accomplished leader" who had played "a transformative role" shaping the Apple retail experience.
Angela has inspired and energized our retail teams with the vision of stores as a place where the best of Apple comes together to serve customers and communities. During her tenure, the in-store experience has been redefined with programs like Today at Apple, and our relationship with customers is stronger than ever.
Deirdre O'Brien will be reporting directly to Tim Cook going forward. She will continue to oversee talent development and Apple university, recruiting, employee relations and experience, business partnerships, inclusion and diversity, and more, along with retail experiences.

At the current time, Apple has more than 500 retail locations across five continents and more than 35 online stores around the world.

Tag: Angela Ahrendts
[ 161 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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mcfrazieriv
10 weeks ago
I'll never forget the fond memories...

That brilliant debut stage performance when she slipped the word "cervix" instead of service...
Her fashionable appearances at store openings that lasted mere minutes before disappearing back into the void.
The beautiful tree gardens in Apple "squares" - formally known as what they really were, "stores."
Those divine watch counters within department stores... her attempt to turn Apple into a fashion statement.
And finally, her olympic sized stock packages she was given to do absolutely nothing original.

Take care, your excellence. En Taro Tassadar.
Rating: 65 Votes
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hlevolve
10 weeks ago
I haven't been any more impressed with the Apple stores since she took over from the point they were at when Ron Johnson was still doing it. So I guess bye is about all I can say. I'm sure some of her changes applied more to certain segments of the population but for me personally the stores seemed to get a bit worse during her management of them. They always seem chaotic when I go in there.
Rating: 35 Votes
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harrisondavies
10 weeks ago
Good. She ruined the experience.
Rating: 28 Votes
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rmoliv
10 weeks ago
GOOD RIDDANCE
Rating: 25 Votes
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verpeiler
10 weeks ago
Dunno, never understood how a Burberry manager would fit in a tech company (yeah watchbands?!) :-P

Rather puzzling, her departure, when she was rumored to succeed Cook.

That was never a real rumor...
Rating: 20 Votes
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iLoveDeveloping
10 weeks ago
Good
Rating: 20 Votes
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Attonine
10 weeks ago
I hate the Genius “Groves”. It’s awful being told to wait in a fairly non descript area and watch the employees marching around aimlessly calling out names. Everyone longingly eyeing the employees going that it is their name that will be called.

Much preferred the Genius Bar. The screens scrolling appointments and names and also a clear location to aim for when you had an appointment.
Rating: 19 Votes
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dominiongamma
10 weeks ago
Think this story will unite Apple fans, glad she is gone!
Rating: 17 Votes
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Braderunner
10 weeks ago
What part don't you understand? The buh?....or the bye? Buh bye!
Rating: 15 Votes
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mookc1
10 weeks ago
Genius Groves?????? In my opinion, she ruined the Genius Bar. Appointments mean nothing. Walk-ins get the same priority. Used to be that you made the appointment and they were ready for you at the assigned time. Buh Bye.
Rating: 14 Votes

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