Phil Schiller, a well-known leader at Apple who worked closely with Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, has stepped down from running the App Store and Apple’s product launch events, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
According to a Bloomberg report, Schiller gave up these two major tasks but will stay at the company as an “Apple Fellow”. He told employees he would work on unnamed projects. However, many workers believe this is a big step toward him finally retiring.
This change happens right before takes over as the new chief executive officer on September 1. , who became the boss in 2011 and ran Apple for 15 years, will become the executive chairman.
Who is Phil Schiller?
At 66 years old, Phil Schiller is one of the most recognised bosses in Apple’s history. During his career, he helped introduce many of Apple’s biggest products. He was Apple’s senior vice president of marketing until 2020.
He was a key decision-maker on new devices such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac computers. Working alongside , he also helped create the App Store.
In his recent job, Schiller did much more than watch over a platform making over $30 billion every year. He decided whether to approve or reject controversial apps and handled relationships with software developers.
Schiller led efforts to implement new App Store rules to address lawsuits and new government regulations. He also dealt with Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, during a long court case over in-app payments.
What will happen to his old jobs?
Schiller’s remaining tasks are now being split up. According to the Bloomberg report, the job of running the App Store goes back to the services division led by Eddy Cue. Cue ran the App Store until 2015, when Schiller’s team took it over.
Every day, the App Store will now be run by Carson Oliver, who will report directly to Cue. Two years ago, Schiller split the work between Oliver, who watched the App Store, and Ann Thai, who worked on app tools. Now, Thai will report to Oliver. Alex Rofman, the head of Apple Arcade, will also report to Oliver.
Even after leaving his marketing job in 2020, Schiller still led the team putting together Apple’s product launch events. He is now giving that job to Nola Weinstein, his assistant since 2023.
Weinstein will report to Kristin Huguet Quayle, the vice president of communications. Huguet Quayle’s department used to run the events until 2019.
Schiller’s move highlights one of the biggest tests for Ternus as the new CEO.
He has to deal with many of Apple’s older leaders leaving. Leaders like Jeff Williams, Dan Riccio, Luca Maestri, and Lisa Jackson stepped down or took smaller jobs. Apple’s past general counsel and the head of Apple Pay are also leaving in October.