Apple is dealing with another major departure from its human resources team. Sjoerd Gehring, the Vice President of Recruitment, is leaving the company to join investment firm Citadel. His exit comes just days after Chief People Officer Carol Surface also left her position. These back-to-back resignations have sparked concern about the stability of Apple’s HR leadership.
Recruitment Leader Moves to Citadel
Gehring has been with Apple since 2018. He will now move to Citadel in November, replacing Matt Jahansouz as the firm’s People Chief. Citadel’s Chief Operating Officer, Gerald Beeson, expressed excitement about Gehring’s new role. Beeson stated that Gehring will help attract top talent and guide them in building successful careers at Citadel. With past experience at Johnson & Johnson and Accenture, Gehring’s expertise will likely be valuable to Citadel.
HR Departures Create Uncertainty
Gehring’s departure follows the recent exit of Apple’s Chief People Officer, Carol Surface. Surface had been with Apple for just 18 months. While the reasons behind her departure remain unclear, these two high-level exits have raised questions about the future direction of Apple’s HR team. Both Gehring and Surface played critical roles in Apple’s talent strategy. Their absence creates challenges, especially as the tech industry faces stiff competition for top talent.
What’s Next for Apple’s Talent Strategy?
Apple’s leadership is now tasked with filling these two important positions. The company will need to focus on recruiting the best candidates while maintaining its talent management systems. Gehring’s departure is a significant loss, given his role in shaping Apple’s hiring approach. Moving forward, Apple may need to review its HR structure to ensure it continues attracting and retaining top talent.
Apple has not yet commented on these departures, but the loss of two key HR figures indicates that changes may be on the horizon. The tech giant must now work quickly to stabilize its HR operations and keep its competitive edge in the fast-moving tech world.
The recent exits of Gehring and Surface signal a time of transition for Apple’s HR department. With Gehring heading to Citadel, Apple’s recruitment team faces a pivotal moment. How the company addresses this leadership gap will shape its talent strategy in the months to come.
