A fashion executive joining what seems to be one of the most fashionable innovators in the tech industry, it makes sense. Apple CEO Tim Cook made an announcement on the second quarter earnings call that former Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts finally will join the company next week.
Previously, speculations came out that Ahrendts would only join Apple in spring or that she would only leave her position in Burberry by June. Technically, she is out of the British fashion house in October 2013, though obligated by contract to remain for another six months in the company for the transition to new Burberry CEO Christopher Bailey. Come April, she was free of obligations, thus ready to join Apple.
Apple, meanwhile, expanded the retail presence of the company in countries such as Turkey and Brazil, and Cook eventually expressed that he looks forward to Ahrendts finally jumping on board as senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores.
Why Ahrendts, or maybe the question should be, why not?
The 53-year-old former fashion executive was Burberry CEO since July 2006 and worked at other top fashion companies such as Donna Karan International, Henri Bedel and Liz Claiborne.
She is also described as "wicked smart" by Cook in his email to employees as posted on 9to5Mac. Further, Ahrendts will spearhead both the retail and online teams of Apple.
"I have wanted one person to lead both of these teams for some time because I believe it will better serve our customers, but I had never met anyone whom I felt confident could lead both until I met Angela. We met for the first time last January, and I knew in that meeting that I wanted her to join Apple," Cook writes in the email.
Since the removal of John Browett in October 2012, who only lasted in the company for less than a year, Apple doesn't have any dedicated retail executive so the retail group is reporting to Cook for a year and a half. Previously, Browett was CEO of Dixons. Prior to Browett, former J.C. Penny executive Ron Johnson was in the position for 11 years until he left in 2011.
Further research says Ahrendts was a prominent figure whose influence at the Burberry house goes beyond the retail stores expansion. She was said to have cultured the fashion house in the modern setting and revived its lost status in the fashion industry.
Apple hired many executives with different backgrounds-apparel, fitness or wearable tech--that brought about rumors on a possible iWatch or new wrist-type product. Observers say the recent hires and decisions of the company appeared to tie the loose ends between couture and technology, for one simple reason: Apple is aiming to design functional but at the same time fashionable products in the future.
