Apple's top App Store exec, Phil Schiller, follows wave of exits as CEO Tim Cook steps down
TechCrunch
β’Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:02:06 +0000
π° What Happened
Bloomberg reported Monday that Phil Schiller, Apple's long-time App Store chief, stepped down from his position in recent days and will stay on as an Apple Fellow working on unspecified projects. Day-to-day App Store operations pass to Carson Oliver, and the App Store moves from marketing into Eddy Cue's services division, following CEO Tim Cook's departure amid a wave of executive exits.
π The Backstory
Schiller joined Apple in 1987 and led the App Store since 2015, shepherding it through the Epic Games antitrust suit over in-app fees - the monopoly claims were dismissed and Apple largely won, though it was ordered to let developers link to external payments, and appeals continue. The leadership transition arrives as Apple faces regulatory scrutiny of its store practices worldwide.
π― Why It Matters
The App Store is a cornerstone of Apple's services revenue and the center of global app-economy regulation debates. Moving it under services and installing a new leader could signal how Apple intends to handle developer relations and regulatory pressure in the post-Cook era.
Bloomberg reported Monday that Phil Schiller, Apple's long-time App Store chief, stepped down from his position in recent days and will stay on as an Apple Fellow working on unspecified projects. Day-to-day App Store operations pass to Carson Oliver, and the App Store moves from marketing into Eddy Cue's services division, following CEO Tim Cook's departure amid a wave of executive exits.
Schiller joined Apple in 1987 and led the App Store since 2015, shepherding it through the Epic Games antitrust suit over in-app fees - the monopoly claims were dismissed and Apple largely won, though it was ordered to let developers link to external payments, and appeals continue. The leadership transition arrives as Apple faces regulatory scrutiny of its store practices worldwide.
The App Store is a cornerstone of Apple's services revenue and the center of global app-economy regulation debates. Moving it under services and installing a new leader could signal how Apple intends to handle developer relations and regulatory pressure in the post-Cook era.