Head of Mac hardware leaves Apple

[AppleInsider]

Another week, another top level exec departs from Apple's Macintosh division.

On Monday, November 8th, the vice president of Apple's Mac support unit left the company. Exactly one week later, Tim Bucher, head of Apple's Mac hardware engineering, did the same.

Word of Bucher's departure began to spread late-last week, though Apple at the time would not immediately confirm the report to AppleInsider. However, CNet News.com was able to receive confirmation from Apple earlier this morning.

"Apple has not named a successor for Bucher but said a team of workers is overseeing engineering efforts and reporting to executive vice president Tim Cook, the leader of Apple's Mac unit and also the head of the company's overall sales and operations."

The team reportedly consist of Apple's industrial design chief, Jonathan Ive, along with Bob Mansfield, Dan Riccio and "someone recently hired to lead the electrical-engineering group, whose name Apple did not release."

Bucher was in charge of Mac system development until May, when he was promoted to head all Mac hardware engineering, as former chief Jon Rubinstein shifted gears to head up the company's new iPod division.

Last week, AppleInsider reported on the departure of Mark Wilhelm, Apple's former vice president of Apple Care customer support.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[ClimbingTheLog]

If you were thinking of leaving Apple, a 4-year high on the stock is a good time to cash out all of your options...

[Splinemodel]

Good. This means that they can hire me to replace this dude.

[OOO]

--- Or someone miss a deadline? Like new G5 for january...

[Louzer]

Could it be he left because Apple has, more and more over the past year, moved Mac hardware onto the back burner, spending their money and resources on iPods and less in the world of, I don't know, computers.

Then again, a company whose 'low-end' desktop is $1500 certainly needs other forms of income, because computer sales isn't going to push revenues.

[nothanks]

"escorted out" was the phrase I heard about Tim.

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally posted by Louzer
Could it be he left because Apple has, more and more over the past year, moved Mac hardware onto the back burner, spending their money and resources on iPods and less in the world of, I don't know, computers.

Then again, a company whose 'low-end' desktop is $1500 certainly needs other forms of income, because computer sales isn't going to push revenues.

Apple's stock now over $61 is projected to be $100 shortly, by more than one analyst who sees the iPod driving a conservative 6.5% Mac(iMac/eMac/iBook/pBook/PMac) overall increase from its many surveys of new iPod buyers who have consistenly been 12% former PC buyers now owning Macs.

I expect Steve to have new plans for the Hardware that don't include downsizing but augmenting the lines and most likely will mean he already knows who he wants heading up this role.

Btw. When I resigned from Apple in '98 amidst frustrations in the Enterprise (former AES team member here) I walked out on my own accord. If they get the AES department more focused I'd love to work back there.

[Gavriel]

Originally posted by nothanks
"escorted out" was the phrase I heard about Tim.

Soooo, possibly the result of a fallout between him and some unnamed black mock turtleneck-wearing CEO, huh?

*sinister rampant speculation*

[BuonRotto]

In larger companies, even if a person quits, they're usually escorted out of the building by security. It's ugly IMO, but it's done to make sure they're not packing a few DVDs of confidential stuff with their stapler and tissues.

[nothanks]

Originally posted by BuonRotto
In larger companies, even if a person quits, they're usually escorted out of the building by security. It's ugly IMO, but it's done to make sure they're not packing a few DVDs of confidential stuff with their stapler and tissues.

Thanks, but I already knew that. That's not what I heard here.

[BuonRotto]

Then you should have said that!

[Vox Barbara]

Originally posted by BuonRotto
In larger companies, even if a person quits, they're usually escorted out of the building by security. It's ugly IMO, but it's done to make sure they're not packing a few DVDs of confidential stuff with their stapler and tissues.

there must have be something occured by chance