Apple Acoustics VP Leaves Role, AirPods and HomePod Audio Team Gets New Leadership

The team responsible for audio at Apple will soon undergo leadership changes due to the departure of longtime acoustics vice president Gary Geaves, reports Bloomberg. Geaves is stepping down from his role, though he will be replaced with "top deputy" Ruchir Davé.

airpods january
Apple's acoustics group has approximately 300 members that have developed audio technology for the AirPods, HomePods, and other Apple devices. The team was responsible for creating spatial audio, the 3D sound feature that has been built into AirPods, the Vision Pro, and other devices.

AirPods product designer Tang Tan was overseeing the acoustic team under John Ternus, but he started preparing to leave Apple back in December. Since then, the acoustics team has been reporting to Matt Costello, who oversees the HomePod and Beats headphones.

Geaves joined Apple in 2011 from Bowers & Wilkins, and Bloomberg says he will be staying on at Apple as an advisor to Costello as he prepares to retire. Over the course of the last two years, Geaves has been working on an overhaul to the AirPods lineup, and the first updates are expected this year.

Rumors suggest we will see AirPods 4 and new AirPods Max this year, with revamped AirPods Pro to follow in 2025.

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Top Rated Comments

KENESS Avatar
18 months ago
I suspect the timing is because the revised AirPod lineup is finished. (Internally, at least, they're likely about done.) He probably decided wrapping up the revamp would be his last big to-do before retiring, and now that that is done, he's ready to call it a day at Apple.

The older I get, the more respect I have for people retiring. They've put in a good long life into their career, it's time to just do whatever the eff they want.

Edit: grammar
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
18 months ago

Geaves joined Apple in 2011 from Bowers & Wilkins, and Bloomberg says he will be staying on at Apple as an advisor to Costello as he prepares to retire.
A huge hat-tip Mr. Geaves for all of the outstanding audio projects he's lead at Apple over the years. I'm happy he'll be sticking around as an advisor.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anshuvorty Avatar
18 months ago
EVERYONE IS LEAVING!!! PANIC!!!

APPLE IS DOOMED!!!

/s
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nautilus007 Avatar
18 months ago
hopefully overhaul is more than just a feature bump and Apple actually starts designing again rather than just milking consumers.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigandtasty Avatar
18 months ago
Lot of turnover lately. Hopefully for the better.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
18 months ago
No doubt due to all the people complaining over the rumored lack of new features (except USB C port) in AirPods Max v2. /s

It is amazing how far Spatial Audio has come, thank you Mr. Geaves.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)