Another leadership shakeup is coming to Apple. Bloomberg reports today that Carol Surface, Apple's chief people officer, is leaving the company. Surface joined Apple less than two years ago, in March 2023.
Surface was Apple's first chief people officer to report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Surface takes over those responsibilities from Deirdre O'Brien, who served as Apple's senior vice president of retail and people operations from 2019 to March 2023. When Surface joined the company, Apple removed O'Brien's HR responsibilities, allowing her to focus entirely on retail.
In her role as chief people officer, Surface was responsible for talent development and Apple University, recruiting, employee relations and experience, benefits, compensation, and inclusion and diversity.
Bloomberg notes that with Surface's departure, O'Brien, who has been with Apple for 30 years, will once again take over both retail and HR at Apple.
Prior to joining Apple, Surface spent 10 years at medical device company Medtronic as executive vice president of human resources. She also spent three and a half years in the same role at Best Buy, as well as more than a decade in human resources and talent at PepsiCo.
Surface's departure is the latest in a series of changes at Apple's top:
- Apple's procurement chief leaves after 24 years
- Veteran Apple engineering chief Dan Riccio retires this month
- Apple announces imminent CFO transition, names Luca Maestri as successor
- Apple's App Store VP leaves amid broader restructuring
