The head of Apple’s App Store is leaving the company amid a major behind-the-scenes restructuring that will result in the company splitting into two business units.
Matt Fischer has led the App Store since 2010, but will be leaving Apple in October, according to Bloomberg. Mark Gurman reports that Fischer’s departure comes as part of a major restructuring in Cupertino. “The App Store group will be split into two teams: one that oversees Apple’s own store and another that is responsible for distributing alternative apps,” he reports.
This move comes as Apple faces strong regulatory pressure around the world to revise its business model for distributing iPhone apps. In the EU, this trend has so far seen the emergence of alternative app marketplaces, sideloading and more.
This move was reportedly made by Phil Schiller in response to these changes.
Matt Fischer leaves Apple
In an email to Apple employees on Wednesday, Fischer told them: “After 21 years at Apple, I have made the decision to leave our incredible company.” He said the move had been on his mind for some time and that the internal restructuring was “the right time to pass the baton to two outstanding leaders on my team.”
According to Bloomberg, Carson Oliver and Ann Thai will lead the two new divisions of Apple’s App Store business. The former will lead the App Store group and the latter will lead the team responsible for alternative distribution.
Outside the EU, Apple is facing market investigations in other territories, including a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice. Some developers and politicians are pushing the company to allow alternative distribution methods for iPhone apps outside of the App Store, usually to avoid the commissions Apple charges on those products. However, Apple has introduced alternative fees such as the Core Technology Fee and continues to charge commissions on payments made on alternative platforms.
It’s unclear whether Apple’s decision to separate the two may herald a change in the future.
