The Apple Store is more than a store. It’s one more product, one more brand experience that Steve Jobs founded with Ron Johnson and has become a corporate icon. If a city has an Apple Store, that city is relevant. If you have several, we speak of an international capital.
At the head of these Apple Stores (or Apple Retail in more commercial terms) several people were behind the departure of Ron Johnson: John Browett led a somewhat bumpy stage which caused him to leave in a short time, but after him came a born leader: Angela Ahrendts. Let’s see what happened to it after it passed through Apple stores.
A cosmetics and clothing expert at Apple? Sure
John Browett’s scene made one thing clear: in front of the Apple Store, there could be no one, regardless of their experience, in front of the department stores. someone was needed not only with experience, but with vision so that the shops were also a meeting place.
And that’s where Angela Ahrendts came in. He had not only been CEO of Burberry from 2006 to 2014: he had also worked to develop fashion and cosmetics chains and it was very clear that the design was all to attract the customer. And if Apple is good at anything, it’s design.
Angela Ahrendts’ journey as head of Apple Retail spanned five years, during which we saw how stores were redesigned to adapt to new times and new products. It looked like her time was going to last longer because she fit the Cupertino philosophy so well, but ultimately Angela decided to leave Apple to pursue new interests. Deirdre O’Brien has held her position ever since.
From running the Apple Store to serving on boards
Angela didn’t hold senior positions at more companies, leaving Apple as the pinnacle of her career. But that does not mean that he has stopped working: at the age of 62, he began to use his experience in positions of responsibility to become a member of the board of directors of various organizations and companies: Save The Children (of which she is the president), Airbnb and the Ralph Lauren Organization among them.
His most recent interviews are mostly about leadership. From the abandonment of the figure of the boss who decides everything to the adhesion to the proposals of all the employees to make the company evolve together. Connect with all the positions under his command in a much more direct way to awaken motivation in the teams. Unsurprisingly, Angela has repeatedly made Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Businesswomen.
Although her roles are now more administrative and managerial, Angela remains a well-respected figure who hopes to continue serving on various boards of directors until she herself decides to retire.
