Longtime Apple PR chief Katie Cotton to retire
After an 18-year tenure at Apple, Katie Cotton, the company's vice president of worldwide corporate communications, will be leaving the Mac maker, it was announced on Wednesday.
Cotton's upcoming departure was confirmed by Apple in a statement to Re/code. One of the most powerful executives at the company, Cotton has been in charge of public relations under the rule of both Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and current Chief Executive Tim Cook.
"Katie has given her all to this company for over 18 years," Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said. "She has wanted to spend time with her children for some time now. We are really going to miss her."
Dowling is seen as a likely candidate to replace Cotton, according to sources who spoke with The Verge. Another potential successor is Natalie Kerris, as both she and Dowling have been at the company for more than 10 years.
Cotton also spoke out on her own departure, admitting that the decision to leave was "hard," as her long employment at Apple has made the company "a part of (her) heart."
The forthcoming departure from Cotton is the latest in a string of longtime high-ranking Apple employees who have decided to exit the company. In March, it was announced that Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer will exit at the end of September, while last month it was also revealed that Human Interface director Greg Christie will be leaving the company in a planned exit later this year.
Other noteworthy exits from Apple in recent years include former retail chief Ron Johnson, who left for an ill-fated stint as CEO of JC Penney; Scott Forstall, who was ousted from the company after struggles with the launch of iOS Maps; and John Browett, who was fired after a short tenure serving as Johnson's replacement.
The company's hardware engineering head, Bob Mansfield, announced his retirement in mid-2012, but the senior vice president was later convinced to stay. As of last July, Mansfield is no longer a part of Apple's executive team, but he continues to work on special projects.
Cotton's upcoming departure was confirmed by Apple in a statement to Re/code. One of the most powerful executives at the company, Cotton has been in charge of public relations under the rule of both Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and current Chief Executive Tim Cook.
"Katie has given her all to this company for over 18 years," Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said. "She has wanted to spend time with her children for some time now. We are really going to miss her."
Dowling is seen as a likely candidate to replace Cotton, according to sources who spoke with The Verge. Another potential successor is Natalie Kerris, as both she and Dowling have been at the company for more than 10 years.
Cotton also spoke out on her own departure, admitting that the decision to leave was "hard," as her long employment at Apple has made the company "a part of (her) heart."
The forthcoming departure from Cotton is the latest in a string of longtime high-ranking Apple employees who have decided to exit the company. In March, it was announced that Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer will exit at the end of September, while last month it was also revealed that Human Interface director Greg Christie will be leaving the company in a planned exit later this year.
Other noteworthy exits from Apple in recent years include former retail chief Ron Johnson, who left for an ill-fated stint as CEO of JC Penney; Scott Forstall, who was ousted from the company after struggles with the launch of iOS Maps; and John Browett, who was fired after a short tenure serving as Johnson's replacement.
The company's hardware engineering head, Bob Mansfield, announced his retirement in mid-2012, but the senior vice president was later convinced to stay. As of last July, Mansfield is no longer a part of Apple's executive team, but he continues to work on special projects.
Comments
I think Cook is cleaning out the stables. First Brower. Then no taking back Johnston. Forstall. Then the CFO. Now the head of their (abject) PR.
I hope that the next on the list will be the ad agency, and then the legal team.
Wow. This is big news. According to Adam Lashinsky's book Inside Apple, Cotton was one of only 4 Apple execs present at Steve Jobs burial service. The other three were Tim Cook, Jony Ive and Eddy Cue.
What about Phil?
No taking back Johnson? How do we know Ron Johnson wanted to go back to Apple?
I'll grant you that was a stretch on my part, based on some vague rumors that people were reporting at that time.
I'll take the departures of just the other ones.
Don't forget the guy running Apple maps.
As I recall, that was Forstall?
No doubt she will leave with a FAT ASS goodbye package. 18 years on top of Tim buying up stock at prices made up by the goddamn tooth fairy. Yeah sweetie I'm a miss you like I miss my mom beating my southern tail with an extension cord.
For a snarky remark like that, we should look forward to seeing your mom beat your sorry southern butt with an extension cord. Bare-ass please, so we can see if she leaves big, red welts. And if Katie Cotton is good wearing spiked heels, maybe she can do a tap dance up and down your back for good measure. No getting yourself off on the pain, though. /s
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All of it was a stretch. People retire all the time. I'm happy she chose her kids over work. Hopefully there is an open door if she wants to return
All of it was a stretch. People retire all the time. I'm happy she chose her kids over work. Hopefully there is an open door if she wants to return
Hmm... even Browett and Forstall?
I guess you must subscribe to very different set of news services compared to mine.