Apple’s head of design is leaving after simply three years

Apple is dealing with a significant departure from its company management as Evans Hankey, head of {hardware} design, introduced that she will probably be leaving the position earlier this week. Hankey has been Apple’s head of {hardware} design since 2019 and instructed colleagues that she’s going to stay in her place for the following six months earlier than her official departure in 2023. Whereas individuals could also be anxious to know who will probably be changing her as soon as she leaves, no successor has been named.

Hankey’s departure marks a big change in Apple’s analysis and improvement division, particularly as a result of her time as head of {hardware} design was comparatively temporary when evaluating it to Jony Ive , who held the place for 20 years earlier than being changed by her. Each Ive and Hankey have been chargeable for delivery a few of Apple’s most iconic units, so whoever steps up as the brand new division head can have fairly the fame to comply with.

With Hankey leaving, there’s loads of hypothesis already stirring concerning the manufacturing of Apple’s bold, albeit nonetheless comparatively unknown future endeavors, corresponding to its VR headset and AR glasses. As a result of the corporate is poised to begin breaking new floor with its upcoming units, having a brand new, unknown {hardware} designer helming issues turns all future initiatives into large query marks — or somewhat, into even larger query marks.

In an announcement to Bloomberg concerning the way forward for its {hardware} design division, an Apple spokesman mentioned: “Apple’s design workforce brings collectively knowledgeable creatives from all over the world and throughout many disciplines to think about merchandise which can be undeniably Apple.” The spokesman additionally famous that the corporate’s design workforce has “sturdy leaders with many years of expertise.”

Primarily based on the truth that Hankey reported to Ive as part of the design workforce earlier than finally changing him within the position, it looks like a protected wager to imagine that the brand new head of {hardware} design will probably be stepping up from a special inside design place. This can be a fairly frequent pattern as Apple tends to seek out replacements for its most senior positions by seeking to people who find themselves already aware of its course of versus full newcomers to the corporate. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless doable, if unlikely, that Apple would possibly look elsewhere for a alternative. Till the corporate makes an official announcement, we’ll all simply have to attend.

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