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Apple looking to externally hire ‘friendlier, more approachable’ PR chief after Katie Cotton’s retirement

Tim Cook China

(Tim Cook in China with Katie Cotton)

Now that Apple’s PR chief and VP of Corporate Communications Katie Cotton has officially joined the growing group of retiring Apple leadership, Tim Cook is searching for the company’s next VP of Communications. Re/code reports that Apple is looking outside the company, however, rather than promoting someone internally to permanently fill the role.

And though there are at least two well-qualified internal candidates for the job — comms veterans Steve Dowling and Nat Kerris — Apple is also looking outside the company for Cotton’s replacement. Sources in position to know tell Code/red that CEO Tim Cook is overseeing the search, aiming to find some high-profile external candidates for consideration. And he’s paying particular attention to those he believes could put a friendlier, more approachable face on Apple’s public relations efforts.

The move to find someone from outside Apple to follow Katie Cotton is not unlike Tim Cook’s decision to replace Apple Retail’s VP Ron Johnson first with outside hire John Browett, then CEO of Dixons, followed by current Retail VP Angela Ahrendts, formerly CEO of Burberry.

News that Katie Cotton would retire from her role at Apple was first reported just over one month ago.

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Comments

  1. Marcos Vieira (@VieiraM) - 10 years ago

    And that’s another attempt of Tim to turn Apple into the average, more of the same, American corporation.

  2. rahhbriley - 10 years ago

    The except calls Re/code Code/red. FYI Odd mistake…

    • rahhbriley - 10 years ago

      Wait…I’m silly. That’s the column’s name isn’t it?? No mistake on your part.

  3. herb02135go - 10 years ago

    Does Apple really need PR since the media coverage is always so favorable? I guess someone has to send the news releases that are copied and pasted.

    • rogifan - 10 years ago

      Just curious what media coverage you read? Where does Apple get favorable coverage besides rumor/fan sites?

    • CNBC slams Apple daily. Media always says “Apple stopped innovating when Jobs died.” I rarely see positive media coverage. It’s always, “Yeah, but how will that top that next quarter?” BS.

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.