After the retirement of Katie Cotton, the PR who helped craft Apple’s air of mystique, Apple has announced another departure: that of Zane Rowe, who served as the head of North America sales.
The reason for the departure isn’t yet known, but it comes weeks after former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts took over as the new head of retail and online stores. Rowe joined Apple in 2012 from United Continental, where he had been the chief financial officer.
He will be replaced by Doug Beck, who has been key in growing oversees sales in Japan and Korea.
Japan is one of Apple’s fastest growing markets for the iPhone — with business getting a further boost from the recent addition of NTT Docomo as a carrier partner. During Apple’s January earnings call, Tim Cook noted that North American sales were down slightly over the last year, while Japanese sales had increased by around 40%.
It is hoped that Doug Beck can bring some of that extra sales mojo to North America in his new role.
Source: Reuters
