Phil Schiller now an Apple Fellow

Apple on Tuesday announced that longtime senior executive Phil Schiller would become an Apple Fellow. Greg Joswiak (Joz) will take over Schiller’s role of senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing at Apple.

“It has been a dream come true for me to work at Apple, on so many products I love, with all of these great friends — Steve, Tim, and so many more,” said Schiller. “I first started at Apple when I was 27, this year I turned 60 and it is time for some planned changes in my life. I’ll keep working here as long as they will have me, I bleed six colors, but I also want to make some time in the years ahead for my family, friends, and a few personal projects I care deeply about.”

Schiller has been behind the most important product launches in Apple’s history. All of the announcements and ads that we have grown to love over the years have his fingerprints all over them.

I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Phil many times over the last 20 years, and one thing I always came away with is that he cared about the company. Phil always believed in what Apple was doing and wanted the company to release the best products. He does “bleed six colors.”

Fortunately, Schiller isn’t going away entirely. Reporting to Tim Cook, Schiller will continue to lead the App Store and Apple Events in his role as an Apple Fellow.

If there is anyone at Apple that could take on Phil’s role, it’s Greg Joswiak. He will now be responsible for Apple’s product management and product marketing, developer relations, market research, business management, as well as education, enterprise, and international marketing.

Joz has been at Apple for more than 20 years and served as the vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing for the past four years.

Joswiak is another exec that I’ve interviewed many times over the years, and his philosophy is very close to that of Schiller’s. Create the best message and create the best products that Apple can do.

It’s a loss to see Schiller leave his role at Apple, but I’m confident that Joswiak can step into those shoes and pick up where Phil left off.

Having Schiller continue as an Apple Fellow is a bonus for Apple. He is the type of person you want to keep around.