Apple hires Burberry’s Angela Ahrendts as senior vice president

16 Oct 2013

1

In a move that signals the coming fusion of fashion with technology, Apple late Monday night announced it had hired fashion house Burberry's CEO Angela Ahrendts for a newly-created senior vice president position on the executive team.

Ahrendts, 53, will take over the assignment from spring 2014, and report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. She would have oversight of the company's online and retail stores.

With the appointment, Ahrendts becomes the first female executive to join the Apple board. 

Ahrendts, a fashion industry veteran, before becoming the CEO of Burberry in 2006, was the executive vice president at Liz Claiborne and earlier, president of Donna Karan International.

In September, Apple and Burberry collaborated when iPhone 5s phones were used to snap photos at a runway show.

However, Ahrendts is not the first fashion executive to join Apple this year. The iPhone maker hired Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve, earlier this year to work on "special projects."

Rumour has it that the special project is Apple's iWatch or smartwatch, and that, according to industry experts, was the reason Apple seemed to be poaching such high profile fashion executives.

Though no comment has yet been forthcoming from  Apple about the smartwatch reports, Apple CEO, Tim Cook had publicly stated that the wrist was an "interesting" and "natural" spot for a wearable devices.

Apple's brick-and-mortar stores are known for the revenues they generate, the company, however was now making its online stores just as successful with some help from the world of high fashion.

Ahrendts turned Burberry around from near oblivion into a symbol of global luxury.

Her mandate at Apple would involve the revamp of both Apple's physical and online stores so they were equally admired.

''I have wanted one person to lead both of these teams for some time,'' Timothy D. Cook, Apple's chief executive, said in an internal memo to employees that was leaked on the Web, ''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.''

Latest articles

Cyber security is pillar for national security, economic stability: TN IT Minister

Cyber security is pillar for national security, economic stability: TN IT Minister

Inflation may force RBI to hold interest rate, focus on liquidity Economists

Inflation may force RBI to hold interest rate, focus on liquidity Economists

RBL Bank ends credit card partnership with Bajaj Finance

RBL Bank ends credit card partnership with Bajaj Finance

BSNL offers 336 days of data at Rs1,499 under new annual plan

BSNL offers 336 days of data at Rs1,499 under new annual plan

Welspun One to invest Rs700 cr to develop logistics hub in JN Port SEZ

Welspun One to invest Rs700 cr to develop logistics hub in JN Port SEZ

India’s core sector production up 3.1% in October

India’s core sector production up 3.1% in October

India's economic growth slows to 5.4 per cent in Q2 FY25

India's economic growth slows to 5.4 per cent in Q2 FY25

India, France need to expand areas of collaboration: Piyush Goal

India, France need to expand areas of collaboration: Piyush Goal

Australia enacts law to bar children up to 16 years from accessing social media

Australia enacts law to bar children up to 16 years from accessing social media

Business History Videos

History of hovercraft Part 3 | Industry study | Business History

History of hovercraft Part 3...

Today I shall talk a bit more about the military plans for ...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of hovercraft Part 2 | Industry study | Business History

History of hovercraft Part 2...

In this episode of our history of hovercraft, we shall exam...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Hovercraft Part 1 | Industry study | Business History

History of Hovercraft Part 1...

If you’ve been a James Bond movie fan, you may recall seein...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Trams in India | Industry study | Business History

History of Trams in India | ...

The video I am presenting to you is based on a script writt...

By Aniket Gupta | Presenter: Sheetal Gaikwad

view more
View details about the software product Informachine News Trackers