Apple Reorganizes Some Operations, Refocuses Sales Mission
July 5th, 2007
Apple Computer announced yesterday a restructuring that unifies marketing, development and other operations and focuses sales on its core publishing, education, and consumer markets.
Despite reports anticipating up to 3,000 layoffs, the company did not discuss a workforce reduction yesterday. The restructuring will begin in March, when a layoff announcement could come as well.
Meanwhile, Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak will have advisory roles and serve on the company’s executive committee, which reports to Chairman and CEO Gil Amelio.
The real question is how much power will he [Jobs] actually wield? wondered Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, a consultancy in . Jobs and Wozniak are rejoining the company as part-time consultants.
Bajarin applauded Apple’s simplifying of its marketing and sales organizations. My only question is why did it take them so long? he said. Previously, the firm’s different units had their own marketing units. The company’s six divisions and executives will be:
- Technology Office, which Ellen Hancock will lead. It will include reliability and quality, chief scientist, Apple fellows, and an advanced technology group. This seems to represent a substantial reduction in responsibilities for Hancock.
- Research and Development, previously separated in the multiple product organizations, will be divided only between software engineering and hardware engineering. Avie Tevanian of Next Software will lead the software group focused on integrating the NextOS with the MacOS. Jon Rubinstein, formerly chief operating officer of FirePower Systems, will head the hardware group. Both will report to Amelio.
- Marketing, which will be unified into a single organization. At its helm will be Guerrino De Luca, formerly head of Apple’s Claris subsidiary.
- Sales and support, led by Marco Landi, will oversee service to customers worldwide for Apple, Claris, and Next.
The news came on the eve company’s shareholder meeting, to be held today.
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