AppleInsider Staff
Apple this week removed Apple VP of Special Projects Paul Deneve's bio from its Apple Leadership webpage, suggesting the executive has changed roles or is no longer with the company.
Prior to the change, Deneve's headshot was one of only 19 featured prominently on the Executive Profiles page of Apple's press information mini-site. The link to his bio is now inactive and forwards to a generic landing page reading "The page you're looking for can't be found."
Whether Deneve stepped down, changed positions or is no longer affiliated with Apple is unclear. According to his LinkedIn profile, Deneve is still serving as an Apple vice president, though information from the business-oriented social network is circumstantial at best.
Deneve began his professional career as a European marketing and sales manager at Apple in 1990. He made a move to the world of fashion by serving as managing director at Courreges in 1997, then president of Nina Ricci and Lanvin in 2003 and 2006, respectively.
Before returning to Apple in 2013 to head up "special projects" under CEO Tim Cook, Deneve held the position of CEO at French label Yves Saint Laurent, now known as Saint Laurent.
Upon his return, Deneve applied lessons learned from the fashion industry to marketing Apple's first wearable device, the Apple Watch. Last year, for example, the executive helped create a large floral-themed installation that took up all 24 windows at storied London department store Selfridges.
Update: Follow-up reports claim Deneve is still with Apple, but no longer reports to CEO Tim Cook.
Christine McKee
Charles Martin
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14 Comments
Apparently he's still with the company but reports to Jeff Williams now, not Tim Cook.
Guess someone told Cook that the former fashion labels Deneve worked for aren't bling-bling enough for the new Apple power users (e.g. Kardashians and their wannabes)... Kayne aint' rappin' about YSL, Ricci, Lavin... it's all about the Gucci, LV, Prada (and if you're older Hermes or Cartier).
I'm sure for shareholders the path down luxury brand lane will be good for short term, high margin profits... but eventually that crowd moves on when you're no longer cool... and given they're clear slowdown in genuine innovation in product categories, IxD and ID they'll be paying a price down the road... They'll be the Versace of tech.