Apple Faces Leadership Shakeup Amid Talent Exodus to Rivals Like Meta

Apple's executive ranks are thinning at an alarming rate. The tech giant confirmed Thursday that its general counsel and policy chief will retire next year, following a wave of high-profile departures this week. Meta Platforms poached a lead designer Wednesday, while Apple's strategy head exited Monday. The exodus began in July with the COO's departure and continued last year when the CFO transitioned roles.

The talent drain extends beyond the C-suite. Dozens of Apple engineers and developers have recently defected to AI rivals like OpenAI and Meta, according to industry reports. This brain drain threatens Apple's innovation pipeline while arming competitors with valuable institutional knowledge.

Tim Cook remains at the helm, but faces mounting pressure to stabilize leadership and accelerate Apple's AI strategy. The company's walled-garden approach to app distribution continues drawing fire from rivals seeking to disrupt its ecosystem dominance.