A new The Wall Street Journal report outlines Apple’s recent executive and personnel shakeups. The report details how the Cupertino firm’s increasing focus on its upcoming video streaming service, subscription News service, Siri, and more have possibly delayed other projects.
The Information first reported earlier this month that Apple’s Siri VP Bill Stasior had exited his role. Today’s report corroborates that change and adds that Apple’s AI boss John Giannandrea is focusing on improving “Siri’s accuracy and performance.”
The report also indicates that as Apple is increasing its focus on Services, it is also shuffling the focus of many of its engineers. The WSJ says that “much of the engineering resources” at Apple have been redirected to focus on Services.
Apple has also trimmed 200 staffers from its autonomous-vehicle project, and is redirecting much of the engineering resources in its services business, led by Eddy Cue, into efforts around Hollywood programming.
As for Deirdre O’Brien, recently promoted to Head of Retail + People, she’ll be focusing on finishing up the remodeling of Apple retail stores, which were started by predecessor Angela Ahrendts. She’ll also determine “how Apple promotes services in stores.”
The report indicates Apple has promised its Hollywood production partners that the TV shows slated for its new streaming service. “Apple has promised production partners in Hollywood that it will install TVs in stores to showcase its slate of forthcoming shows.”
Today’s report says the shift in focus inside Apple have “rattled” employees, as Apple has “put several projects on hold” so new managers can “reassess priorities.”
Apple is widely-expected to hold an event on March 25, to be held at the Steve Jobs Theater, located at the Apple Park campus. The shindig is expected to focus on the company’s News subscription service, as well as its streaming TV service.
