Apple's Head of Retail Engineering Leaving Company After 10 Years

Diogo Rau, who has served as Apple's head of engineering for retail and the online Apple store, will leave the company following 10 years of service to join Lilly as its senior VP and chief information and digital officer.

apple store reopening
Rau announced his departure from Apple on Linkedin, saying that it has been a privilege to work with his colleagues at Apple and that the company has "set the standard for the retail industry."

Rau joined Apple in April of 2011, and during his tenure, he witnessed and helped the company expand its retail locations and presence around the world. Throughout the years, Apple Stores have taken on a life of their own, serving as a community hub rather than simply a place to purchase products.

Rau also spearheaded Apple's efforts in the digital space, helping to grow its e-commerce platforms, the Apple Store app, and the roll-out of product launches at retail locations. Rau will begin his new role at Lilly on May 17.

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Top Rated Comments

T Coma Avatar
55 months ago
I’m an engineer.
Really? What, a EE?
No, a retail engineer.
?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kjvmartin Avatar
55 months ago

Throughout the years, Apple Stores have taken on a life of their own, serving as a community hub rather than simply a place to purchase products.
Community? Hub? LOL @ This. I am tryin to get in and out of an Apple Store as quickly as possible. Best if I can just get it online shipped. The times I've had to go in there, I feel like cattle. Plus I have to go to a mall to get there.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cardfan Avatar
55 months ago

Community? Hub? LOL @ This. I am tryin to get in and out of an Apple Store as quickly as possible. Best if I can just get it online shipped. The times I've had to go in there, I feel like cattle. Plus I have to go to a mall to get there.
This. It’s probably been a couple of years since I had to tolerate an apple store.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TravelsInBlue Avatar
55 months ago
Apple stores have had an increasingly terrible customer experience, and the ones near me have become sterile and fuglier over the last ten years. The Microsoft store across the pathway was always nicer looking with a more pleasant shopping experience. I always just end up going to Best Buy these days.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
55 months ago
Is he responsible for the non sense that tied the Apple Store app to your iCloud account on your device? Haven't been able to use it since.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigfatipod Avatar
55 months ago
For those knocking on the title of "retail engineer", I think its worth giving this person a lot of credit in what they've accomplished.
If that's still not enough, he certainly has the background to understand "wires".
Rau graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in industrial engineering and engineering management.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)