Apple chief rings the changes

Apple says mobile software head Scott Forstall and retail chief John Browett are departing as chief executive Tim Cook embarks on a sweeping management overhaul at the world’s most valuable company.

Forstall will leave next year and serve as an adviser to Cook until then, Cupertino, California- based Apple said.

Executives Jony Ive, Eddy Cue, Bob Mansfield, and Craig Federighi will take on added management responsibilities, the company said. Forstall is believed to have been pushed out.

Forstall oversaw products such as mapping software and the Siri voice-recognition tool, which met with criticism. He also frequently clashed with other managers, insiders said.

Cook is revamping leadership as Apple’s stock price sags and competition accelerates from rivals including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.com.

The executive changes leave Ive, who already heads industrial design, with more authority over the vision and details of Apple’s products. He will take on responsibility for so-called human interface, the software that governs how customers interact with Apple devices.

Browett joined Apple in April, after being hired in January from his post as CEO of Dixons Retail Plc

— Bloomberg