Apple executive Forstall ‘ousted’ for ‘refusing to apologize for flawed maps’: Report

October 31, 2012 | Business | Written by

Washington, Oct 31: Apple executive Scott Forstall was asked to leave the firm after he refused to sign an apology letter for shortcomings in the latest iPhone’s new mapping service, people familiar with the matter have disclosed.

Apple on Monday announced the departure of Forstall on along with the exit of its new retail chief, John Browett.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, people close to the matter said Browett was also asked to leave.

Sources claimed that Browett, who only recently was appointed head of the company’s retail operations, failed to fit in at Apple and made some mistakes.

They included the faulty implementation of a new staffing formula that cut some employee hours too severely, the Journal said.

According to the Journal, Forstall’s departure came after mounting tension with members of Apple’s executive ranks.

For years, senior executives had complained that he wasn’t cooperative and showed off his close relationship with Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs, the report said.

Forstall also recently sent some members of Apple’s iOS software team an email saying he felt the group wasn’t working on enough big ideas in mobile software, according to a person briefed on the email, it added. (ANI)