Cisco hires Apple's former iPhone chief Mark Papermaster

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Cisco announced Friday that it has hired Mark Papermaster, the former Apple executive who headed up the company's iPhone and iPod division before reportedly being ousted in August.



Papermaster's 2008 arrival at Apple was the subject of controversy. Apple had recruited Papermaster away from IBM, where he served as VP of microprocessor technology development. IBM promptly responded with a lawsuit alleging Papermaster was in violation of his non-compete agreement.



Court documents revealed that Papermaster, who was suggested by Apple VP Mark Mansfield as a "long shot" for the iPhone and iPod position, had been a secondary pick during Apple's year-long search to replace 'iPod father' Tony Fadell. Apple and IBM eventually reached a settlement requiring Papermaster to check in with IBM regularly to notify them that he hadn't revealed any confidential information.



After less than two years at Apple, Papermaster left his position at the Cupertino, Calif.-based iPhone maker. Apple announced his departure in August, but declined to say whether he left of his own accord or was asked to leave. With Apple having recently weathered the iPhone 4 antenna controversy, dubbed 'Antennagate,' pundits speculated that Papermaster had taken the blame for it.



However, sources told The Wall Street Journal that Papermaster's departure came because of a "falling out" with Apple CEO Steve Jobs. According to the report, Papermaster "had lost the confidence" of Jobs several months prior to his departure and was seen as incompatible with Apple's corporate culture. The report also noted that Papermaster had joined Apple while Jobs was on sick leave and may have been "ill-prepared" for Jobs' return.



Papermaster has joined Cisco Systems as its vice president of its silicon switching technology group, Reuters reports.



Interestingly enough, Cisco happens to 'share' the iPhone trademark with Apple, as a result of a settlement over a trademark dispute. That fact, however, likely has no bearing on Papermaster's role at Cisco.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 30
    I have a bad feeling about this.
  • Reply 2 of 30
    So papermaster and puppetmaster did not get along.
  • Reply 3 of 30
    ajitmdajitmd Posts: 365member
    Mark Papermaster who is an expert in microprocessors, SoC technology, was with IBM for over 26 years - mostly in Texas - and is quite capable. He had no business leaving IBM and joining Apple that has a totally different culture... like day and night. Besides, he was already rich being a VP at IBM with deferred comp plans, defined retirement plans, stock options, etc.



    Hopefully, it will work out for him with Cisco... whose culture is similar to IBM.
  • Reply 4 of 30
    Ah, now I get why Cisco's stock fell 17% yesterday.



    The rumor must have got out.
  • Reply 5 of 30
    Papermaster is becoming quite the whore eh, in anyone's corporate bed it would seem
  • Reply 6 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cy_starkman View Post


    Papermaster is becoming quite the whore eh, in anyone's corporate bed it would seem



    Where the money is Jerry, where the money is..
  • Reply 7 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by boeyc15 View Post


    So papermaster and puppetmaster did not get along.



    Tekstud most probably, but still a funny response, lol.
  • Reply 8 of 30
    So, he's smiling again?



  • Reply 9 of 30
    He is a talented man, good for him.

    Good luck at Cisco!

  • Reply 10 of 30
    kibitzerkibitzer Posts: 1,114member
    Apple VP - Shouldn't that be Bob Mansfield, not "Mark"?
  • Reply 11 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kibitzer View Post


    Apple VP - Shouldn't that be Bob Mansfield, not "Mark"?



    Lucky it's not "Jane"
  • Reply 12 of 30
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by boeyc15 View Post


    So papermaster and puppetmaster did not get along.









    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AjitMD View Post


    Mark Papermaster who is an expert in microprocessors, SoC technology, was with IBM for over 26 years - mostly in Texas - and is quite capable. He had no business leaving IBM and joining Apple that has a totally different culture... like day and night. Besides, he was already rich being a VP at IBM with deferred comp plans, defined retirement plans, stock options, etc.



    Hopefully, it will work out for him with Cisco... whose culture is similar to IBM.



    Yeah, based on what I read this seems like a better fit.
  • Reply 13 of 30
    OMG NO WAY!!!11!!



    So the guy got another job.
  • Reply 14 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ranReloaded View Post


    Lucky it's not "Jane"



    Jayne.

    http://www.nndb.com/people/856/00003...-mansfield.jpg

  • Reply 15 of 30
  • Reply 16 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cy_starkman View Post


    Papermaster is becoming quite the whore eh, in anyone's corporate bed it would seem



    Daaaaaaaa**!!!!!

    Oh no you didn't!!
  • Reply 17 of 30
    "Interestingly enough, Cisco happens to 'share' the iPhone trademark with Apple, as a result of a settlement over a trademark dispute. That fact, however, likely has no bearing on Papermaster's role at Cisco."



    And exactly HOW does Cisco having a similarly named TRADEMARK have any !%@$ bearing on hiring technical talent? Or do you get paid by the word so this idiot paragraph netted you an extra couple bucks?





    Gordon
  • Reply 18 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GordonPrice67 View Post


    "Interestingly enough, Cisco happens to 'share' the iPhone trademark with Apple, as a result of a settlement over a trademark dispute. That fact, however, likely has no bearing on Papermaster's role at Cisco."



    And exactly HOW does Cisco having a similarly named TRADEMARK have any !%@$ bearing on hiring technical talent? Or do you get paid by the word so this idiot paragraph netted you an extra couple bucks?





    Gordon



    Uh, he was being a bit facetious. And you really, really need to get back on your meds.
  • Reply 19 of 30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mister Snitch View Post


    I have a bad feeling about this.



    For what? Seriously, for what?
  • Reply 20 of 30
    When Steve came back, the first thing he asked Papermaster was if he was a virgin. It was all downhill from there.



    (I finally managed to see Pirates of Silicon Valley last night )
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