Running a large company is always a difficult task to understand. That the machinery ends up working is thanks to the organic structure that it has made up of different managers as well as the Board of Directors, which is the one that has the last word in the operation of a company. In this article we collect all the management managers that exist in the Cupertino Company as well as the functions that each one has.
Who’s boss at Apple
Apple is structured in different departments that try to encompass all functions for the proper functioning of the company. From everything related to devices to environmental policies, they are related to all the executives in the company. The highest management body within the company is the Board of Directors that sets the general lines that Apple follows, although they are not involved in day-to-day tasks or in the design of devices. An executive director or CEO is elected from this board of directors who acts as one of the most responsible for day-to-day management.
Under the responsibility of the CEO are other intermediate positions that have the day-to-day tasks in the basic functions of the company. Between these two management bodies, it can be said that they run the company in all its areas as well as in the regions. Although, the board of directors, as we have said before, is the one that actually directs the company by being able to settle among all the appointments that can be made.
Apple’s current officers and positions
Apple CEO
Tim Cook is the executive director or CEO of Apple and is part of the board of directors, being one of the top managers of the company. He has held this position since August 2011, succeeding the previous CEO, Steve Jobs, after his retirement due to illness. Previously in this position, Tim Cook was already a member of Apple, being responsible for the company’s worldwide operations, managing Apple’s supply chain.
Prior to joining Apple, Tim Cook was with Compaq as corporate vice president of materials. He also spent 12 years at IBM taking over the distribution of personal computers throughout America. All this was possible thanks to his studies at Duke University for which he has an MBA, and is also an Industrial Engineer with a degree from Auburn University.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Katherine Adams is currently the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Cupertino company. She acts as Apple’s main legal advisor and reports directly to the CEO of the company. It has the task of supervising all legal and intellectual property matters as well as compliance with lawsuits and values as well as global privacy for the user. It has been present at Apple since 2017.
Prior to this he was working at Honeywell as well as Sidley Austin LLP. If you leave the private field we find a great experience in the Supreme Court as a legal assistant as well as direct relations with the Department of Justice. He earned a law degree from Boston College.
Senior Vice President, Software and Internet Services
Eddy Cue serves as Senior Vice President, Internet Software and Services. Among its main functions is the management of content stores such as iTunes Store and Apple Music. In addition, the management of other applications such as Apple Pay or Apple Maps as well as specific iCloud services is also under your responsibility. Added to this is the leadership of all aspects at the programming level worldwide.
He is a veteran within Apple, having joined their ranks in 1989. He played a key role in creating the company’s first online store in 1998, the iTunes Store in 2003, and also the App Store in 2008. Prior to this position, he was in charge of software engineering management within Apple. He has a BA in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University.
Senior Vice President of Software Engineering
Craig Federighi is currently the Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. Its main mission is to supervise the development of both iOS and macOS. His team is in charge of working on both the native applications and the user interface that we see in the software. He has been in this position since 2009 when he assumed the development functions of macOS and in 2012 he also assumed those of iOS.
Prior to this position, there was a time when he was working at NeXT and before that he was fully at Apple until he left for a short period of time. His training includes a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California.
Senior Vice President of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Strategy
John Giannandrea is the Senior Vice President of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Strategy. Since 2018, he has supervised the entire strategy that goes behind all the artificial intelligence of the company. Both Siri and Core ML technologies are included here.
Before joining Apple, he was at Google for 8 years leading various search, research and artificial intelligence teams. This is also compounded by the confusion of the Tellme Networks and Metaweb Technologies companies. His training is quite specific as he has a double degree in Computer Science.
Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing
Since 2020, Greg ‘Joz’ Joswiak has been the global head of marketing reporting to Tim Cook. He had previously held other positions within the company and specifically within the marketing department, since he entered in 1986. Among his responsibilities is to develop the launch campaigns for all the devices launched by the company. In his early years, for example, he worked with the first Macintosh.
Prior to the 30 years that he has been at Apple, there have been no experiences in other companies of too much relevance. He has a degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan.
Senior Vice President of Operations
This responsibility has been assumed by Sabih Khan since July 1, 2019, although he has been within the company since 1995. Among the main functions, the management of the global supply chain at Apple stands out. Added to this are the tasks of ensuring product quality as well as overseeing the planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics and product fulfillment functions. Also under his responsibility are Apple’s environmental initiatives to protect the planet.
Prior to working at Apple, he was involved with GE Plastics as an Application Development Engineer. He has a BA in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University.
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
This position has been assumed by Luca Maestri since 2013. Among his functions as financial director, he stands out above all the control over accounting, financial support, treasury, real estate, investment relations, internal audits as well as all taxes related to economic activity.
Prior to joining Apple, Lucas Maestri has worked on similar topics at Xerox, Nokia Sistem Networks or General Motors. His training is a bachelor’s degree in economics through the Luiss University in Rome.
Deirdre O’Brien, Senior Vice President of Stores and Personnel
Since 2019 Deirdre O’Brien has held this position of Vice President, assuming positions related to the work of all company employees. In this way it tries to develop and train all existing employees. Added to this are the responsibilities of hiring, trade association, benefits as well as compensation, inclusion and diversity. Also noteworthy is the control it has over retail stores, such as their design.
Although she has been assuming this responsibility since 2019, Deirdre has 30 years of experience within Apple beginning to develop in the first products of the company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in operations management from Michigan State University.
Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering
This position has been assumed since 2010 by Dan Riccio . His duties included the leadership of the Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod hardware teams from then on. It stands out above all for having an important impact on the presentation of the first iPad for which it had a lot of responsibility in its development.
Previously, he assumed the responsibilities of the vice president of product design in 1998, the first time he joined the company. Before joining Apple, he stands out as one of the senior manager of Mechanical Engineering at Compaq. He has a BA in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies
Johny Srouji assumed this position in 2015 in the rank of ‘senior’ vice president, although since 2008 this vice president has been assumed without being a senior. It stands out for creating one of the strongest silicon and technology teams in the world. It is primarily responsible for monitoring hardware technologies, application processors, storage controls, batteries, sensors, and all the chips that are included in the company’s products.
Prior to joining Apple, he held various positions of responsibility at Intel and IBM in the area of development and design of processors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Israel Institute of Technology.
Director of operations
This position has been held by Jeff Williams since 2004. His duties include the supervision of all operations worldwide as well as customer service and assistance. He also leads the Apple Watch hardware and software engineering and design team. It is important to note that it played an important role in the launch of the first iPhone to the market.
Jeff Williams previously joined Apple as director of global acquisitions in 1998. Prior to Apple, he was present at IBM in various engineering and operations positions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University.
Vice President of Environment, Policies and Social Initiatives
This position was assumed by Lisa Jackson in 2015. Her duties include monitoring the impact on the environment by addressing climate change through renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as using greener materials.
It has had an important repercussion in the government of the United States while Barack Obama ruled. She assumed positions related to the environment such as being Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and was even involved in the New Jersey government.
Vice President and Managing Director of Greater China
This position has been held since 2017 by Isabel Ge Mahe , reporting directly to the CEO of Apple as well as the COO. His duties include leadership and coordination throughout the Apple team based in China. Before assuming this position within the company, he held the vice-presidency of wireless technologies since 2008, in charge of different chips such as WiFi or Bluetooth.
Prior to joining Apple, she held responsibilities within Palm as vice president of wireless software engineering as well as other related companies. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Columbia University.
Vice President of Marketing Communications
The responsibility of marketing communication has been assumed by Tor Myhren since 2016. Among his responsibilities is the leadership of a creative team focused on Apple’s advertising, internet presence, packaging design and all the marketing that is directly related to the consumer.
Tor Myhren is a well-awarded former journalist and documentarian. He holds a BA in English Literature. He has also been named as one of the most creative people in business as collected by Fast Company.
Vice President of Corporate Development
The holder of this position has been in the possession of Adrian Perica since 2019, reporting directly to the CEO of Apple. Among his duties, he is responsible for mergers, acquisitions and strategic investment efforts in the company. Although, in 2009 he was responsible for the integration of vital technologies and new businesses in hardware and software and services.
He previously worked for eight years at Goldman Sachs, Deloitte Consulting and was also an officer in the United States Army. He has a degree in Physics from the United States Military Academy.
Responsible for the App Store and Apple Events
This position has now been entrusted to Phil Schiller since 2020. As his position reflects well, he has responsibilities for the management of Apple events as well as the App Store and its internal policies. Schiller previously worked extensively on product guidance and marketing for Apple. Specifically, he served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.
Members of the Board of Directors
Above all the executive members of the company, it should be noted that there is one more ladder. Apple’s highest governing body is its Board of Directors. Its main functions are to define the general strategy of the company, as well as to design the organizational structure of the company. In addition, it is also important to control the execution and achievement of the objectives of the strategic plan. That is why in the end they are the ones that mark all the steps to be followed by Apple and most of its members are not directly linked to the organic structure. They even have the task of carrying out the appointment of the CEO of Apple as well as his removal. This indicates that the CEO in the end is not the ‘owner’ of Apple, but this 8-member council. Specifically, the members of the Board of Directors are the following:
- Arthur D. Levinson . Administration Counsel President. Genentech CEO.
- James A. Bell. Corporate President of the Boeing Company.
- Tim Cook . CEO of Apple.
- Albert Gore Jr. Former Vice President of the United States.
- Andrea Jung. President and CEO of Grameen America.
- Monica Lozano. President and CEO of Fundaciones Futuras.
- Ronald D. Sugar . CEO of Northrop Grumman.
- Susan L. Wagner . Co-founder and director of Black Rock.
Executives and managers who are no longer at Apple
Steve Jobs
The most recognized personality without a doubt in relation to Apple. He was one of the founders of the company in 1979 as a teenager in his own home. Thanks to the charisma he had, he managed to convince many investors to be able to make his entire project come true when almost no one was betting on a personal computer as he proposed to everyone. At only 26 years old, he was already a millionaire thanks to the IPO of Apple.
Although, his vision of the future did not completely penetrate the Board of Directors with his idea of the Apple Lisa. That is why he resigned from his position during the 90s, time that he dedicated to form the Pixar animation company revolutionizing cinema with Toy Story. Finally, he returned to Apple in a second stage to be able to redirect the company due to the needs that the company had to have an innovative mind. At this stage the launch of the iPod and iTunes was approved. Although, without a doubt, its greatest success was the launch of the iPhone and the great revolution that it brought about in the industry in general, influencing other manufacturers to create personal mobile devices.
Unfortunately after this second period, Steve Jobs had to go away from the company for health reasons although he continued to go on stage in the Keynote. He finally stopped being CEO of Apple on August 24, 2021 to give rise to Tim Cook. But unfortunately Steve Jobs could not overcome the pancreatic cancer he suffered, finally dying on October 5, 2011.
Steve Wozniak
Co-founder of Apple and one of the computer engineers who began developing the company’s first computer. Specifically, in 1975 it began with the development of the Apple I, which became the first computer marketed by Apple that was founded in 1976 together with two other people. But it has not been limited only to hardware as expected, but thanks to his training in programming he also laid the first stones in the development of the Macintosh from 1979 to 1981. But this relationship with Apple since its foundation was not maintained constantly anymore. that in 1985 he decided to leave the company to be able to found CL 9 to create the first universal programmable remote control. Finally, until November 2019, he remained as an Apple employee in a ceremonial position until he cut off all possible relationships.
Jonathan Ive
English designer who joined the Apple team in 1992. As of May 25, 2015, he assumed the responsibilities of Head of Design of the company, a position that he would finally leave on June 27, 2019 to start his own business creative. You will be remembered within the company for having played a pivotal role in the design of the MacBook Pro, iMac, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, Apple Watch, and even iOS. During the development of Jony Ive’s designs they went through different stages. One of them was undoubtedly the one related to colors. But the one that has lasted the longest, and also the one that has worked the best, is the use of dark aluminum to build the devices as well as minimalism to simplify all the products to a minimum.
Scott Forstall
He was vice president of the iOS operating system, although in 2013 he left the company to be a personal advisor to Tim Cook. It was quite important at first in the development of Mac OS X from the knowledge acquired in NeXT when it was absorbed by Apple. He also took to the stage when the iPhone OS or iPhone SDK presentations were made.
Angela Ahrendts
Since 2014, Ángela has been in charge of the Senior Vice Presidency of Stores and Personnel. It opened numerous Apple Stores throughout the world and made important aesthetic changes to many of them in order to provide a much more immersive experience for the user. The truth is that his management made this directive position itself in the pools to be able to end up as the new CEO of the company. But this could not be since he finally left the company in 2019.
