Apple VP Of Communication Leaves Company, Third Exec Resignation This Year

The latest in a series of puzzling top executive departures at Apple Inc. will see Steve Dowling, Vice President of Communications since April 2015, leave the company by the end of this month. Dowling joined Apple in 2003.

He’s the third top C-Suite executive to have left Apple this year. All these people reported directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Dowling will assist in a transition of responsibilities to an interim communications manager while the company looks for his replacement. This interim boss is Apple senior Vice President of marketing Phil Schiller.

Apple said it will consider internal and external candidates to replace Dowling as Vice President of Communications.

In a memo sent to Apple staff, Dowling said that he plans to spend a “good, long stretch of time off” with his wife and children. He admitted he plans on “trying something new."

Dowling had only positive things to say about his 16 years at Apple, which he said was the highlight of his career.

Dowling was hired in 2015 because Apple wanted a “more approachable face” to replace Katie Cotton. A close friend of the late Steve Jobs, Cotton shared Job's obsession with secrecy and maintained a tight grip on information during her 20 years with the company.

Analysts note Apple’s leadership team has been unsettled by changes over the last two years. It also struck some of these analysts as odd Dowling would have resigned without his replacement already waiting in the wings given the importance of his position.

Notable departures from Apple over the past year were chief design officer Jonathan Ive, retail chief Angela Ahrendts, and now Dowling.

Added to Apple's senior management were SVP and general counsel Katherine Adams, SVP of machine learning and AI John Giannandrea and SVP Deirdre O’Brien.

“Steve Dowling has been dedicated to Apple for more than 16 years and has contributed to the company at every level through many of its most significant moments,” Apple said in a statement.

“From the first iPhone and App Store to Apple Watch and AirPods, he has helped tell Apple’s story and share our values with the world. Following another successful product launch, he has decided to leave Apple to spend some much deserved time with his family. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy that will serve the company well into the future. We’re grateful to him for all that he’s given to Apple and wish him the best.”