With the increasing global regulatory pressure, Apple will restructure its App Store business, and long-term leader Matt Fischer will resign in October.
Senior Apple executive Matt Fischer will leave the company in October, as the company makes adjustments in response to regulatory pressures.
As part of the restructuring, the head of the Apple (AAPL.O) App Store will leave, as the business is considered to have too much control in the mobile software market and is under regulatory review.
According to sources, Apple's Vice President Matt Fischer will leave Apple in October. He has been in charge of the App Store business since 2010. As the changes have not been announced, the sources requested anonymity. The App Store team will be split into two teams: one responsible for Apple's own app store, and the other responsible for alternative app distribution.
Senior executive Phil Schiller, who is ultimately responsible for the App Store business, is making these changes in response to regulatory demands for Apple to allow pressure for alternative stores and payment methods on iPhones, iPads, and other devices.
In an email sent to the team on Wednesday, Fischer stated: "After working at Apple for 21 years, I have decided to leave this great company. I have considered this for a long time, and now as we are restructuring the team to better address new challenges and opportunities, it is time to pass the baton to two outstanding leaders on the team."
Carson Oliver, a long-time senior director, will be responsible for the App Store team, while Ann Thai, in charge of App Store search and discovery functions, will lead the new team responsible for alternative distribution. Both managers will report to Phil Schiller.
A spokesperson for Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, California, declined to comment on this.
In recent years, Apple's App Store business has been under pressure from developers and regulatory institutions. In early 2024, Apple had to adjust its operation to comply with new EU laws. Apple recently changed its commission structure in the EU and opened up its devices for third-party market use.
But some developers and the EU believe that Apple's changes are not sufficient. They point out that in some cases, Apple is still seeking to charge fees from apps and subscriptions sold on its platform even if these apps and subscriptions come from third-party stores. These changes in the EU, as well as potential changes in other regions, have threatened the App Store's position as Apple's growth engine.
As part of Apple's services division, the App Store business generates approximately $20 billion in revenue each year. Due to the stagnation of growth in major hardware products like the iPhone, the services business has become particularly important for Apple in recent years.
In addition to overseeing the App Store for all Apple devices, Fischer is also responsible for Apple's Arcade game platform launched in 2019.
Meanwhile, Phil Schiller was appointed an Apple Fellow in 2020, at which time he stepped down from his role as marketing executive. He also continues to be responsible for Apple's product launch events.