Apple's Hardware Veteran Dan Riccio Retires Amid Leadership Shift

Apple Inc. is set to experience a significant leadership change, with the impending retirement of Dan Riccio, who has been pivotal in the development of the company's hardware engineering division. Riccio, a veteran of 26 years, has served under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, making substantial contributions to Apple's hardware empire.

Riccio joined Apple in 1998, initially working with the product design team. By 2010, he had risen to the position of Vice President of iPad Hardware Engineering. Two years later, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, overseeing the entire hardware engineering department. His tenure in this role lasted nine years until January 2021, when he stepped down, and John Ternus took over his responsibilities.

The transition comes as Apple prepares for the future under evolving leadership. Mike Rockwell will assume the daily operations of the Vision Pro team, a move supervised by John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. This change is indicative of Apple's strategy to maintain stability while embracing new directions.

Riccio's departure coincides with the retirement of Frank Casanova, the former Marketing Lead for Vision Pro, marking a substantial shift in Apple's executive structure this year. These changes suggest a strategic reorientation as Apple continues to push the boundaries of technological innovation.