Former Dixons boss Browett leaves Apple
Apple’s retail chief and former Dixons chief executive John Browett has left the business after less than six months in the role as part of senior management shakeup.
The technology firm did not explain the reasons why Browett is leaving. His departure follows reports of an internal backlash against his decision to reduce the number of staff and working hours within stores.
His hiring was Apple chief executive Tim Cook’s first major appointment. At the time, the company said Browett had a commitment to customer service “like no one else we’ve ever met.”
Browett was said to have been responsible for driving Dixon’s five year transformation strategy and oversaw the launch of its customer service strategy KnowHow.
Apple says it is looking for a new retail chief and in the interim the retail team will report directly to Cook.
The departure is part of a broader reshuffling of Apple’s senior management team that the company says will lead to more collaboration between its hardware, software and services teams. Senior vice-president of iPhone software Scott Forstall is also set to leave the business.
Forstall’s departure comes just weeks after Apple apologised for the “frustration” experienced by customers using its new Maps service, which he helped develop.
The company said that four key executives including design chief Jony Ive will take on more responsibilities.
