iphone5s5cApple's head of North American sales, Zane Rowe, will be leaving the company, reports The Wall Street Journal. Rowe, who initially joined the company two years ago from United Continental Holdings, will be replaced by Doug Beck.

Beck already oversees sales in both Japan and Korea, and following Rowe's departure, he will take over North American sales.

Doug Beck has done a great job helping to grow Apple's business in Japan and Korea. His role is expanding to include North America sales as well," said Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet.

During Apple's January earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted sales in North America were down somewhat year over year, largely due to supply/demand balance issues with the iPhone 5s. Sales in Japan, however, which were managed by Beck, Rowe's replacement, were up some 40 percent.

No reason has been given for Rowe's departure, but he joins Apple's VP of Public Relations Katie Cotton in leaving the company. Cotton's retirement was announced earlier today, following more than 18 years at the company.

The departure of both Cotton and Rowe comes just as Apple has hired a new chief of online and retail, Angela Ahrendts, who officially joined the company last week.

Top Rated Comments

thelookingglass Avatar
150 months ago
Guys, don't be so pessimistic. Cotton is retiring after 18 years of loyal service, and Rowe is a recent hire from the post-SJ era, and we, at this point, don't know if he's leaving, or being gently nudged out the door, due to disappointing performance. The sky is not falling, yet.

Ah, I see reason still exists on Macrumors. Of course, this thread will soon be overrun by armchair pundits who think they know exactly what's going on inside Apple.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macs4nw Avatar
150 months ago
Guys, don't be so pessimistic. Cotton is retiring after 18 years of loyal service, and Rowe is a recent hire from the post-SJ era, and we, at this point, don't know if he's leaving, or being gently nudged out the door, due to disappointing performance. The sky is not falling, yet.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mejsric Avatar
150 months ago
Blame the iPhone 5C, "C" for Cleanup or Canned. Good job Apple.

Blame 5c who out sell every android, windows, blackberry flagship phones.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
avanpelt Avatar
150 months ago
When you're in a key position and the company you're leaving says nice things about your replacement but doesn't mention you, that's a fairly strong indication that you're being shown the door.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xionxiox Avatar
150 months ago
And they leave one by one.

So you'll work at your job until you die?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
parapup Avatar
150 months ago
You seem to be be confused about the difference between January and April:



https://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/23/q2-2014-apple-earnings/

But then again, making mountains out of molehills based on old, barely negative news and completely ignoring current positive information is what we do at MR these days, right?
Oh I forgot we cherry pick the favorable data (to Apple of course, needless to say) here at Macrumors. YoY sales up - that's the important metric, oh wait YoY sales are DOWN - then how about ... say ... Jan to April sales - see it's all up!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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