The man credited with creating the iPod and iPhone is leaving Apple to spend more time with his family, a decision which some say may have an impact on the IT firm, or at least investor confidence in it.
As the Senior VP with direct responsibility for the market leading music player, Tony Fadell had been tipped by some to take over the top job at Apple if and when Steve Jobs retires, so his sudden departure has taken many by surprise.
According to reports, he will be replaced by former IBM executive Mark Papermaster, though IBM are reportedly trying to block that move, presumably through some sort of non-compete clause in his old employment contract.
Some wonder if Papermaster, a code and software man, is really the right person to replace Fadell who has been primarily involved in the creation of stylish hardware devices, though some reckon it is a sign that Apple recognise the real challenges to come in the digital content market aren't in the hardware domain, but in providing compelling content delivery and social networking tools. Or something like that.