Apple poaching GPU designer Imagination Technologies' talent, hiring key personnel away

Following Apple's decision to not pursue an acquisition of mobile GPU developer Imagination Technologies, at least 25 staffers and management personnel have jumped ship to Apple over the past two years.

Among the departees now confirmed to be working at Apple from LinkedIn postings, notable high-level staff members are the ex-chief operating officer of Imagination Technologies John Metcalfe, Senior Design Manager Dave Roberts, Vice President of Hardware Engineering Johnathan Redshaw, and 17-year veteran of the company and Senior Software Engineering Manager Benjamin Bowman.

Metcalfe is now a senior director at Apple. Roberts is an engineering manager at Apple's iOS GPU software group, and Bowman is a GPU architect for the company. Redshaw is listed as a director at Apple, with no specific branch of the company declared.

Imagination Technologies has licensed high-performance GPU designs, known as PowerVR graphics series, for use in Apple's A-series system on a chip (SoC) dating back to the original iPhone in 2007. The hires may herald an internal project to develop an Apple-designed GPU for use in future iOS projects, rather than rely on third parties for the technology.

Apple issued a statement in March admitting it had "some discussions" with Imagination involving an Apple buyout, but that it did not "plan to make an offer for the company at this time." Apple owns a 10 percent stake in the company.

Following the breakdown in talks, Chinese state-owned company Tsinghua took a 3 percent stake in Imagination as of May 4. Layoffs have wracked the company since.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Apple hired 25 employees away from Imagination late last year. Imagination later clarified the personnel moves took place over a two-year period.

27 Comments

wood1208 2930 comments · 10 Years

About 8 years ago

Can you sense what is going on here ? Apple working towards in-house integrated single chip CPU/GPU/CELL/WiFI/BT/etc SOC fabricated on Intel's advanced 10nm node process..Target is iPhone 2018 fall announcement. All geared for high performance/power efficient A12, integrated Home button under screen, smaller basel, OLED, etc. All good.

hypoluxa 619 comments · 22 Years

wood1208 said:

Can you sense what is going on here ? Apple working towards in-house integrated single chip CPU/GPU/CELL/WiFI/BT/etc SOC fabricated on Intel's advanced 10/7nm node process..Target is iPhone 2018 fall announcement.

It would sem so, yes. Interesting times for Apple.

brucemc 1541 comments · 14 Years

wood1208 said:

Can you sense what is going on here ? Apple working towards in-house integrated single chip CPU/GPU/CELL/WiFI/BT/etc SOC fabricated on Intel's advanced 10/7nm node process..Target is iPhone 2018 fall announcement.

2018 might be early for that level of combined SOC, but it does seem the path Apple is headed for. They have the volumes to justify the investment, which in terms will reduce internal space & power. And support the technologies into smaller / new devices (that cellular connected Apple Watch...).

luvappl 27 comments · 8 Years

And would also make sense if they want to create a turbo SoC version for Macs (bailing on Intel in some years)... though the volumes aren't as high, still synergies and given Intel margins would been a strong ROI contributor.

larrya 608 comments · 13 Years

I agree with everyone, but serious question: when Apple hires big swaths of staff from these companies, how does it avoid patent infringement? Do they have to invent all-new IP? If so, why poach these particular employees?