Apple Inc.’s AAPL extended-time head design chief, Bart Andre, has reportedly decided to retire, marking the near-complete turnover of a team once led by Jony Ive.
Major Transition: Andre, who has been with Apple since 1992, informed colleagues of his decision to step down this month, as reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
He played a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetic of Apple products over the past three decades, even preceding the return of Steve Jobs in the late 1990s.
Andre was a close associate of former design head Ive and played a major role in leading the team after Ive’s successor, Evans Hankey, left last year. He also holds numerous Apple patents.
His departure adds to the recent exodus of top designers from the company. Colin Burns, Shota Aoyagi, and Peter Russell-Clarke all left around the end of last year. Several long-time designers from Apple’s software design team have also indicated their intention to leave soon, the report noted.
Shift in Leadership: Andre’s reported departure comes as Apple undergoes significant changes in its design and innovation leadership.
Following Ive’s departure in 2019, the design team has witnessed a steady exodus of senior designers, leading to a notable shift in the team’s composition with new outside talent being brought in to refresh the industrial design team.
However, a few long-serving members, who worked under Ive and contributed to the creation of iconic products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, remain.
Under the guidance of Jeff Williams, the company’s chief operating officer, the design team has also seen cost-cutting measures and a shift in focus toward projects with immediate payoffs, reportedly causing unrest among the staff.
Apple’s latest financial performance has been strong, with the company surpassing first-quarter earnings and revenue expectations. CEO Tim Cook hinted at significant investments in innovative technologies like artificial intelligence.
Photo courtesy: Apple