Apple’s Industrial Design Chief Hankey Will Resign Three Years after Ive

Apple’s elegant products, including the once-revolutionary idea to make a phone with a screen, helped to fuel its comeback under Jobs. It’s been a key differentiator for Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook. This helped to ward off competitors such as Samsung Electronics Co. or Amazon.com Inc. Apple has become the most valuable company in the world. According to analyst estimates, the company will surpass $400 billion in annual sales this year. This is a new record.

Apple has fared better than others in this year’s tech downturn. Apple shares fell almost 17% in 2022 compared to a 31% fall for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index. Apple’s shares rose 2.7% to $147.27 Friday.

Hankey’s departure could have a negative impact on Apple’s future design plans. It also raises new questions about Apple’s products in the post-Ive era. Hankey’s future plans are not clear.

Even after his 2019 departure, Ive still cast a huge shadow over Apple. Apple was a major client after the British-born executive quit to create his own design company called love from. However, this arrangement was ended.

Apple has been developing key new devices including the mixed reality headset next year and augmented reality glasses that will be available at a later time. A possible electric car could be in the works for some time this decade.

According to people who requested anonymity because it is a private matter, Alan Dye is still Apple’s head of design for user interfaces and software. Dye was promoted in 2019 after Ive’s departure. They also announced that Gary Butcher, who was a former top designer in Dye’s division and is currently Airbnb Inc. vice president of design, will be returning to Apple.