Apple VP of iPhone and Apple Watch design is leaving the company

Tang Tan, the vice president of product design for Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch, is leaving in February 2024. He reportedly made “critical decisions about Apple’s most important products.”

Following his departure, Apple will reshuffle and split up the hardware design team to manage Tang’s responsibilities.

Tan’s departure a “blow” to Apple

Tan reported to John Ternus, SVP of hardware engineering. His team had “tight control over product features, including the look of devices and how they’re engineered.”

“People familiar with Apple’s operations say the Tan departure is a blow, and that he made critical decisions about Apple’s most important products,” reports Bloomberg.

Tan also oversaw the design of Apple accessories and handled the acoustics team behind the AirPods. He reportedly “helped turn those devices into major growth drivers for the Cupertino.” After his departure, Matthew Costello will manage these groups. He currently heads the Beats and the HomePod team inside Apple.

Apple executives under Tan to get bigger roles

Many executives under Tang and Ternus will take on bigger responsibilities as a part of the reshuffle. Richard Dinh, one of Tan’s top executives, will report directly to Ternus.

Kate Bergeron will head the Apple Watch product design. She is currently a hardware engineering executive on the Mac team. Several other executives inside the Mac and iPhone team have been recently promoted as a part of the reshuffle.

This is the second major executive at Apple to announce his departure this week. Steve Hotelling, VP of Touch ID, Face ID, and displays, announced his retirement a few days ago.