Skip to main content

Apple’s first-ever ‘Chief People Officer’ departing after less than two years

Another shakeup is on its way to Apple’s executive team. Bloomberg reports today that Carol Surface, Apple’s Chief People Officer, is departing the company. Surface joined Apple less than two years ago in March 2023.

Surface was Apple’s first-ever Chief People Officer, reporting directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Surface took over those responsibilities from Deirdre O’Brien, who served as Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People from 2019 through March 2023. When Surface started at the company, Apple dropped the human resources responsibilities from O’Brien’s role, allowing her to focus full-time on retail.

In her Chief People Officer role, Surface was tasked with overseeing 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, a 30-year Apple veteran, will once again take the reins on managing both the retail and people teams at Apple.

Prior to joining Apple, Surface had a 10-year stint at the medical device company Medtronic as an executive vice president in charge of human resources. She also spent three and a half years in that same role at Best Buy as well as over a decade in human resources and personnel at PepsiCo.

Surface’s departure is the latest in a string of executive changes at Apple:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is the editor-in-chief of 9to5Mac, overseeing the entire site’s operations. He also hosts the 9to5Mac Daily and 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcasts.

You can send tips, questions, and typos to chance@9to5mac.com.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications