Munster: Macworld Exit Hints At Apple ‘Leadership Shift’

Apple’s withdraw from Macworld Expo marks “the beginning of a shift in leadership roles,” Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster told investors Wednesday.

The decision by CEO Steve Jobs to bypass a keynote speech in favor of marketing head Phil Schiller, sends “a clear message that a leadership shift is underway,” Munster wrote in a note.

This isn’t the first time onlookers have attempted to read Apple’s intentions through trade show speaker selection. In October, the inclusion of Schiller and Tim Cook prompted questions of a potential exit by Jobs.

While Munster described Jobs as “the irreplaceable face of Apple,” the Cupertino, Calif. company has entered the “early stages of changing roles in Apple management.”

Jobs, while an important piece of Apple’s revitalization, didn’t accomplish it solo. Munster said Apple management was key to new product success.

After the announcement that Jobs won’t appear at Macworld, the analyst judged the possibility of any Earth-shattering product releases – such as a new iPhone – as “less likely.”

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