Apple Executives Scott Forstall, John Browett to Leave at Year’s End

Apple is losing two of its top executives

Apple executives Scott Forstall and John Browett will leave at the end of the year, the tech giant announced Monday.

Getty ImagesForstall was the senior vice president of iOS software and Browett was the head of retail. Forstall's responsibilities were divided among three other Apple executives, while CEO Tim Cook plans to take over Browett's role until a replacement is named.

"We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in Apple's history," Cook said in a statement. "The amazing products we've introduced in September and October, iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod touch, iPod nano and many of our applications, could only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services."

Forstall, who joined Apple in 1997, was in charge of the company's mobile software, and was dubbed Apple's "CEO-in-waiting" by reporter Adam Lashinsky in his book "Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired — and Secretive — Company Really Works."

His duties will be divided among the firm's Johny Ive, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi.

Ive, who already leads Apples industrial design, will oversee the direction of human interfacing across the company.

Cue will take over the widely-criticized Siri and Maps products, which failed to live up to expectations with the last update to the mobile software. He already oversees the iTunes Store, the App Store, the iBookstore and iCloud.

And Federighi, who leads the OS X PC software, will now also steer the direction of the iOS platform.

Browett's departure comes early in his tenure as Apple's brick-and-mortar stores sell fewer iPhones than partner retailers.

According to a survey of sales from December 2011 to August 2012, Apple sold only 21 percent of iPhones, behind AT&T's 28 percent and Verizon's 26 percent, AllThingsD reported. Best Buy and Amazon together sold nearly as many iPads as Apple.

Browett joined Apple in April.

It remains unclear whether this influenced his decision to leave, or whether he was forced out of the job. Apple did not immediately respond to requests from TheWrap for comment.

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