Apple Faces Major Leadership Changes as Head of iPhone, Apple Watch Design Exits

Apple's head of iPhone and Apple Watch product design is leaving the firm, according to reports. Tang Tan, Apple's current VP of product design, will leave the company in February, according to the story. This has resulted in a "shake-up to the company's most critical product lines."

Tang Tan Set To Leave Apple in February

Tang Tan currently reports to Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus. Tan's responsibilities will be divided as part of a "reshuffling" within the hardware engineering team following his departure.

Richard Dinh, who now reports to Tan and is in charge of iPhone product design, will be given a larger responsibility and will start reporting directly to Ternus. Kate Bergeron, who presently leads hardware engineering for the Mac, will be in charge of Apple Watch design.

Tan's departure is a "blow" to the design team, according to anonymous "people familiar with Apple's operations" who spoke to Bloomberg. Those who knew him said he made "critical decisions about Apple's most important products."

Tan's staff allegedly has "tight control over product features, including the look of devices and how they're engineered," according to the report. Tan, in particular, was instrumental in turning AirPods and the Apple Watch "into major growth drivers" for Apple.

Other Leadership Changes in Apple

Bloomberg, per 9To5Mac, also reported earlier this week that Steve Hotelling, who worked on important technologies such as the iPhone's multitouch screen, Touch ID, and Face ID, is leaving Apple.

Bloomberg reported today on other recent executive changes at Apple: Laura Legros, who was in charge of hardware product management, will retire at the end of 2022.; Yannick Bertolus, Ternus's VP of hardware engineering who took over hardware product management when Legros departed, also retired in October, and Dan West was promoted to a "non-product role" under Ternus' supervision. West was previously the second-in-command of hardware quality.

According to the report, other Mac product design and iPhone hardware executives were recently prompted. This points to the possibility that Apple could be preparing for more leadership changes in the coming year.

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