Apple’s Chief People Officer steps down

Carol Surface, Apple’s Chief People Officer, has decided to step down after just over a year in the role. 

A spokesperson from Apple confirmed her departure, along with other recent leadership changes, to Bloomberg. Reportedly, Matt Fischer, Head of the App Store, also announced his exit after more than two decades with the company. In August, CFO Luca Maestri shared his plans to step down, though he will continue to oversee Apple’s information systems, technology, and real estate. Kevan Parekh, VP of financial planning and analysis, will succeed Maestri. Additionally, retirements have been announced by Dan Riccio, VP of engineering, and Dan Rosckes, Head of global supply chain procurement.

Carol, who directly reported to CEO Tim Cook, conveyed her decision to employees on Wednesday. Reportedly, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail and People, Deirdre O’Brien, will succeed Carol. Deirdre had previously led the HR team before Carol’s appointment and will now manage dual responsibilities for Apple's retail operations and HR function.

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Carol supported the People team, overseeing connection, development, and care for Apple’s employees globally. She led various functions, including talent development and Apple University, recruiting, employee relations and experience, benefits, compensation, and inclusion and diversity.

Before joining Apple, Carol served as Executive VP and CHRO at Medtronic for over a decade. She also worked as EVP and CHRO at Best Buy and as Chief Personnel Officer at PepsiCo, overseeing the Asia, Middle East, and Africa region. Academically, she holds a PhD in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Castleton University

Carol’s sudden resignation comes as Apple faces legal challenges. Recently, the U.S. Labour Board accused Apple of violating employees' rights to organise and advocate for better working conditions by enforcing unlawful workplace rules. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) claimed that the tech giant required employees nationwide to sign illegal confidentiality, non-disclosure, and non-compete agreements, along with overly restrictive misconduct and social media policies, interfering with employees' rights under federal labour law. In response, the tech giant stated that it respects employees' rights to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions, disagreeing with the accusations. The company plans to present its case at a hearing. If unresolved, the case will go before a judge in January 2025. The NLRB is seeking to have Apple remove the rules in question and notify all U.S. employees of their rights. This complaint stems from 2021 charges by former senior engineering manager Ashley Gjovik, who alleged Apple’s policies discouraged discussions on pay equity and discrimination. Furhermore, Apple is also involved in two other NLRB cases, including one where a California HQ employee was allegedly fired for criticising managers, and another involving union-related interference at a retail store. Apple has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.