Apple departures point to challenges for iPhone’s dominance

Apple is facing a wave of executive departures as the company continues a period of transition, not only among its leadership but, if rivals have their way, for its business as well.

- Rolfe Winkler

Several top lieutenants have left in the past 12 months while dozens of others defect to rivals.

(REUTERS)

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal. announced that its general counsel and head of policy will both retire next year. On Wednesday, a top designer left for Meta Platforms. On Monday, Apple said its head of artificial-intelligence strategy would retire, Its chief operating officer announced his retirement in July, and its chief financial officer has transitioned to a new role.

The executive departures underscore a changing of the guard under way at Apple, even as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook himself shows no sign of stepping down. Cook and his new lieutenants face a critical test preparing Apple for the Alera and the wave of new competitive devices that result.