Apple today announced that Apple’s current senior vice president of hardware engineering, Dan Riccio, is transitioning to a new role, where he will focus on an unspecified project, with John Ternus set to take over as senior vice president of hardware engineering from Apple.
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In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Riccio has made Apple a better and more innovative company, and that Ternus will bring in-depth knowledge and extensive experience to the Hardware Engineering teams.
“Every innovation that Dan helped Apple bring to life has made us a better and more innovative company, and we are excited that he remains part of the team,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO. “John’s deep knowledge and extensive experience make him a bold and visionary leader of our hardware engineering teams. I want to congratulate you on these exciting new steps and I look forward to many other innovations that will help bring you into the world.”
There is no information on what project Riccio will be working on, but Apple has an Apple Car and several augmented and virtual reality devices under development. The “Apple Car” project was recently taken over by Apple’s AI chief, John Giannandrea, so Riccio’s role is a mystery.
Going forward, Riccio will be vice president of engineering, which looks like a title demotion, so it is possible that he wants to move away from Apple. Riccio has been with Apple since 1998, when he joined the product design team.
Riccio became vice president of Hardware Engineering for the iPad in 2010 and, in 2012, took over the Hardware Engineering team. Apple says Riccio “will continue to play a key role in shaping the future of Apple products”.
In a statement, Riccio said that working at Apple has been “the opportunity of a lifetime” and that now is the right time for a change.
“Working at Apple has been an opportunity of a lifetime, dedicated to making the best products in the world with the most talented people you can imagine,” said Riccio. “After 23 years of leading our Product Design or Hardware Engineering teams – culminating in our biggest and most ambitious product year ever – it is the right time for a change. Next, I look forward to doing what I do most. I love – – focusing all my time and energy at Apple on creating something new and wonderful that I couldn’t be more excited about. “
John Ternus initially joined Apple as part of the Product Design team in 2001 and, in 2013, assumed the role of Vice President of Hardware Engineering. He oversaw the launch of products that include the first generation AirPods, each PiPad and iPhone 12 and 12 Pro.