Bob Mansfield has made it public that he will be leaving the company in the coming months. He has been with the company for 13 years-some of Apple’s most successful years. Since he’s been there so long, it seems terrifying that they are losing him but be assured Apple’s got it covered. Dan Riccio, current vice president of iPad hardware engineering (he reports to Mansfield now) will be taking the reins from Bob Mansfield within the next few months. He originally joined Apple in 1998 as VP of hardware design. This experience that he had and that he has now will surely help him as he takes Mansfield’s place.

In a press announcement from Apple, they have stated that he was “instrumental” to all of Apple’s iPads and they have said that he has been a key contributor in many of Apple’s products. They also stated that “Dan has been one of Bob key lieutenants for a very long time and is very well respected within Apple and by the industry. [Apple’s] hardware engineering team is the best engineering team on earth and will not miss a beat during the transition.” On a sort of sad note of Bob leaving the company, Apple also said this in their statement, “Bob has been an instrumental part of our executive team, leading the hardware engineering organization and overseeing the team that has delivered dozens of breakthrough products over the years…We are very sad to have him leave and hope he enjoys every day of his retirement”. I too am sad to see such a key player in Apple gone from the company, however I know that Dan Riccio will help to continue to make Apple an insanely great company in his new role as SVP.

Even as most companies declare that they only need a CEO, CFO, etc., Apple has been able to be very successful with its management team. Most companies would not be able to afford to have many SVPs and VPs like Apple does. Whether or not all of these positions is necessary is unclear, however the way Apple has been managed has worked, so they most be doing something right.

I don’t think it will matter too much that Bob is leaving since everyone at Apple is as dedicated as everyone else, but with that said, I am glad that they chose a well-fit candidate for the job and as always I look forward to seeing what Apple has up its sleeve in the future. I also look forward to seeing what the new SVP of Hardware Engineering will bring forth to Apple and I am sad to see a great soldier of Apple leave. Thanks for all you have done Bob Mansfield and we all wish you the best in your retirement.

Thanks for reading,

Joe