9to5Mac reports that Apple executive Bob Mansfield’s departure from Apple’s leadership team stems from Mansfield’s desire to focus on chipset design and future products, and less on executive duties. The information is from ” sources with knowledge of the change.”
As part of Mansfield’s leave from the executive team and role change to “special projects” under Apple CEO Tim Cook, Mansfield’s former duties as Senior Vice President of Technologies have been split between two Senior VPs: Hardware chief Dan Riccio and Operations head Jeff Williams, according to these sources.
Dan Ricco will now oversee antenna design for Apple’s mobile devices in addition to hardware engineering for the Wi-Fi components in all of Apple’s products.
Mansfield’s position s Senior Vice President of Technologies also saw him in charge of Apple’s special projects engineering team. His new role will see him continuing to contribute to special projects, with Jeff Williams assisting in overseeing management for those groups.
Mansfield’s will be focusing on chips while delegating managerial duties to Riccio and Williams.
It is likely that Apple will not appoint a new Senior Vice President of Technologies as the role itself was created specifically for Mansfield.
While its reported Mansfield would indeed like to retire and begin a new phase of his life, sources believe he will never fully pull away from Apple. He is firmly dedicated to the company, and will continue to contribute to Apple even when he finally does retire.
