News

Apple axes SVP of retail division

October 30, 2012

Apple announced today the immediate departure of John Browett, the company's newly minted SVP of retail. Browett has encountered some snags in his six-month stint on the job, but Apple has not given specific reasons for his exit.

According to an article on washingtonpost.com, Browett cut staffing hours at Apple's retail stores, a move the company reversed and acknowledged as a mistake that appeared to be motivated by a desire to improve profits, but Apple divisions don't have their own profit-and-loss accounts; they're supposed to support the company as a whole.

Browett took over the store operations after Ron Johnson, who helped create the Apple stores, left to become CEO at J.C. Penney Co. in November. At the time Browett was appointed, commentators wondered what an executive from a traditional retail operation would bring to Apple, the article reported.

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