Apple promotes two iPhone, Mac executives

Apple has promoted two new executives to the inner circle of its management, and put them in charge of its two most important products at present.

Scott Forstall is now senior vice president of iPhone Software, and Bob Mansfield is now senior vice president of Mac Hardware Engineering. AppleInsider spotted the moves, which come as Apple is getting ready to talk about both the iPhone and the Mac during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.

Scott Forstall, the new head of iPhone software development.

(Credit: Apple)

Forstall is familiar to Apple watchers new and old; he's the executive who introduced the particulars of the iPhone's software development kit to the world back in March, and has also helped CEO Steve Jobs introduce new versions of Mac OS X in the past. Apple said Forstall is "one of the original architects of Mac OS X and its Aqua user interface," in his corporate bio on the company's Web site, which has been updated with his new title.

Bob Mansfield, recently promoted as senior vice president of Mac hardware engineering.

(Credit: Apple)

Mansfield brings a background in computer graphics to his new role, with former stints at SGI and Raycer Graphics, which was acquired by Apple in 1999. He's played a leading role in Apple hardware development since 2004 and most recently oversaw the introduction of the MacBook Air, according to his bio.

Forstall will report directly to Jobs, while Mansfield will report directly to Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, according to their bios.

[Mr. Dee]

I see Forstall as the most likely to take up Steve Jobs mantle if and when he decides to retire. He is the only one I can think of at the Company who has that love for the Mac like Steve in terms of the belief in rich, aesthetically pleasing interfaces. They both share the same qualities on that front and seems to express it in a similar way as far as I can tell when I watched 10.5 introduction at the WWDC '06 keynote.

[coryschulz]

I like Steve... I don't want him to leave Apple.... ever... Don't we have the technology to make people live forever?

[MaLvaDo39]

I agree. Forstall or Ive would be the most likely candidates in about 20 years....

Just not any sales people... like the monkey boy... ;)

[lmasanti]

I think Forstall will be OK for the tech/demo parts of the keynotes, but I do not see him for the sales/commercial part.

[Thomas, David]

I agree with MaLvaDo39. I am trying to figure out why companies keep making the critical mistake of having been counters, and sales people drive the future of a tech company.