Apple’s star designer Jony Ive made headlines three years ago when he announced he was leaving the California computer company. Ive started a new company and initially stayed with Apple as a consultant. Now Ive’s consulting contract is also coming to an end – not least because of the horrendous costs, as Apple insiders have rumored.
When Ive left Apple in 2019, he founded the design company Loveform. Immediately, Ive’s previous employer, Apple, became its main client: According to a report in the “New York Times,” the Cupertino-based computer company signed a $100 million consultancy contract with Ive. In return, he was only allowed to work for other customers with Apple’s permission.
Consultancy costs were clearly too high
In this way, the goal was to prevent competing companies from accessing the skills of the longtime Apple design guru, the report said. However, Apple’s management was not particularly happy that such sums were being paid to Ive’s new company. The fact that several Apple designers have switched to their former boss’s new company in recent years has also sparked resentment.
Consultant contract not renewed
According to the report, the consultancy contract has apparently not been renewed, meaning Apple and design guru Ive must finally part ways. However, there is no official statement about the insider reports from Apple or Ive, who, in addition to Apple, also counts Ferrari and Airbnb among his new company’s customers.
The fact that Ive left Apple after 30 years in the group is said to be the result of a long process of estrangement. Ive was used to senior management taking a lot of interest in his product design. However, following the death of company founder Steve Jobs and its acquisition by veteran manager Tim Cook, the focus has reportedly shifted from design, much to Ive’s dismay. Cook later described the allegations as “absurd”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
