Apple Removes Technologies Chief From Top Executive Team

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By Seth Fiegerman2013-07-29 13:46:26 UTC

Welcome to Apple's incredible shrinking executive team.

Bob Mansfield, Apple's SVP of technologies, has been removed from the company's top executive team, Apple confirmed on Sunday.

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“Bob is no longer going to be on Apple’s executive team, but will remain at Apple working on special projects reporting to [CEO] Tim [Cook],” an Apple rep told AllThingsD in a statement. Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

Mansfield led Apple's hardware engineering team for years before announcing his plan to retire in mid-2012. He later agreed to stay on at the company for another two years in part, reportedly, because Apple pushed out its iOS chief Scott Forstall, who was said to have poor relations with some other members of the leadership team.

Mansfield was given a new title and tasked with overseeing all of Apple's wireless and semiconductor teams. Recent reports have suggested that Mansfield is also deeply involved with Apple's wearable technology efforts, including the much-rumored iWatch.

For Apple, the move highlights the growing number of vacancies among its top executive team. While the overall number of people on the team has stayed relatively stable, Apple is now missing a retail exec, chief operating officer and wireless chief.

Here's how the executive team looked when Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs was in charge of the company in 2011:

Apple execs