Apple Shifts App Store Oversight Amid Executive Exodus
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Phil Schiller steps down as App Store head as the unit moves to the services division led by Eddy Cue.
Apple is restructuring the management of its App Store as part of a broader leadership transition, as TechCrunch reported. Phil Schiller, who has led the App Store since 2015, has stepped down from the role, according to reporting from Bloomberg via TechCrunch. Schiller, a company veteran since 1987, will transition to an Apple Fellow role focused on unspecified projects; Bloomberg reports company insiders view this as a step toward retirement.
As part of the shift, Apple is moving the App Store from the marketing department to the services division led by Eddy Cue. Day-to-day operations will be delegated to Carson Oliver, a 14-year Apple veteran. Schiller's departure follows his leadership during a 2020 antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games regarding in-app fees. While the judge largely ruled in Apple's favor and dismissed monopoly claims, the company was ordered to allow developers to link to external payment options.
The transition coincides with the departure of CEO Tim Cook, who is succeeded by John Ternus. Cook's exit is accompanied by a wave of high-level departures, including:
* **Jeff Williams**: Chief operating officer (retired December). * **Lisa Jackson**: VP for Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives (retired December). * **Kate Adams**: General counsel (retired December). * **Jennifer Bailey**: Head of Apple Pay (set to retire October). * **Paul Meade**: VP in charge of Vision Pro (left in June for OpenAI).
TechCrunch reports that following Meade's departure, Apple downsized the Vision Pro team by approximately 100 employees as of two weeks ago.