Apple Inc. veteran Phil Schiller has stepped down from his role overseeing the App Store and product launch events. The move comes as Apple prepares for a major leadership change with John Ternus set to take over as Chief Executive Officer. Schiller, who is 66 years old, will continue working at the company under his Apple Fellow title but will no longer manage day-to-day operations.
He has been with Apple since 1987, with only a four-year break during that time, and took over the App Store in 2015, according to TechCrunch. Schiller’s departure marks part of a broader shift in Apple’s executive leadership as the company transitions to new management, according to a report from Yahoo Finance. The company is also dealing with several other high-level departures, including Jeff Williams, Lisa Jackson, Kate Adams, and Jennifer Bailey.
Schiller played a key role during the Epic Games lawsuit over App Store fees and in-app payment systems. The legal case involved claims that Apple had created an illegal monopoly, which were ultimately dismissed by the court. However, Apple was still required to allow developers to use external payment options in some cases.
The App Store’s operations are now being transferred to the services division led by Eddy Cue. Carson Oliver will take over day-to-day management of the App Store and related services such as Apple Arcade. Nola Weinstein, who previously served as Schiller’s deputy, will now handle global product launches and events.
Weinstein will report directly to Kristin Huguet Quayle, the company’s Vice President of Communications and Public Relations. Apple is preparing for a major product event on September 9, which will feature its anticipated foldable iPhone and updated Apple Watch lineup. Paul Meade, who led the Vision Pro headset team, left Apple to join OpenAI.
Meade’s departure has led to a downsizing of the Vision Pro team, which lost around 100 employees as of two weeks ago. John Ternus will now take over as CEO. Schiller’s exit is one of several recent changes that signal a generational shift in Apple’s top ranks.
The company has seen a wave of departures across legal, finance, hardware, and government affairs roles. Tim Cook, who has led Apple for 15 years since Steve Jobs, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. Schiller’s new role as an Apple Fellow is reserved for those who have made outstanding technical or leadership contributions.
IMAGE: Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Bash 2012 Staring Neon Trees. Photo: Mike Deerkoski / Wikimedia, taken 2012-06-14, CC BY 2.0