Apple Chip Leader Johny Srouji May Depart Amid Ongoing Executive Exodus
Apple’s leading chip executive, Johny Srouji, may be the latest senior figure to depart amid a concerning trend of executive exits. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Srouji has indicated to CEO Tim Cook that he is contemplating leaving the company soon, potentially to join another organization. Srouji is influential in Apple’s chip design and was a key player in the shift to Apple silicon.
Recent Executive Departures and Context
This news follows a series of high-profile departures at Apple, including:
- Kate Adams – Senior Vice President and General Counsel
- Lisa Jackson – Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives
- John Giannandrea – AI Chief
- Jeff Williams – Chief Operating Officer
- Luca Maestri – Chief Financial Officer
Gurman highlights a “disconcerting brain drain” within the company, largely attributed to the retirement of seasoned executives. As the workforce shrinks, the competitive landscape grows fiercer, particularly as other companies like Meta aggressively recruit former Apple employees.
Impact on Apple’s Future
Tim Cook is facing increased pressure to halt this trend by enhancing compensation packages to retain top talent. Notably, Cook has been under scrutiny regarding his own future at Apple, with speculation surrounding his retirement following his recent 65th birthday.
Apple’s inability to launch a successful new product category in the past decade may be further contributing to its talent retention challenges. Gurman notes that agile competitors appear better poised to lure top talent away.
Potential Changes in Leadership
If Srouji were to depart, the potential candidates for his replacement could include Zongjian Chen or Sribalan Santhanam. In an effort to encourage Srouji to remain, Cook might offer him a significant pay increase or additional responsibilities. Some suggest promoting Srouji to Chief Technology Officer, overseeing a wider scope of hardware engineering and silicon projects.
Wider Talent Drain in AI and Engineering
The situation extends beyond Srouji, with a notable decline in Apple’s AI organization, initiated by the exit of AI models chief Ruoming Pang this year. Several prominent engineers have also left, resulting in decreased morale within the team.
Key losses include:
- Robby Walker – Oversaw Siri and search technology
- Jian Zhang – Former head of AI robotics software, now at Meta
- Tang Tan – Senior hardware engineering executive, now at OpenAI
The design team has faced significant attrition as well, with many members departing to join former design chief Jony Ive at LoveFrom. This situation raises alarms within Apple’s leadership, prompting a renewed focus on recruitment and retention strategies.
As Johny Srouji’s potential departure looms, Apple stakeholders remain watchful of the company’s direction in this tumultuous period.
