Reminder – Mark Papermaster Starting Work at Apple This Month

In November 2008, Apple was happily announcing that ex-IBM chip design expert, Mark Papermaster, had joined the company as Senior Vice President of Devices Hardware Engineering. The announcement came after IBM's ex Blade server guru had settled legally with IBM, on the terms of his leaving the company.

"Mark is a seasoned leader and is going to be an excellent addition to our senior management team," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, at the time. The announcement came shortly after IBM sued Papermaster for fleeing off to the Mac maker before his contract had expired, while he was known to possess highly-confidential IBM trade secrets and know-how. IBM was afraid that Apple would squeeze these secrets out of Papermaster and use them to its own advantage.

The November 2008 report also revealed that Apple's Senior Vice President of the iPod Division, Tony Fadell, and his wife, Danielle Lambert, Vice President of Human Resources, would be “reducing their roles” within the company, to devote more time to their young family. Fadell is to remain part of Apple as an advisor to Steve Jobs, while Lambert is said to be leaving Apple.

"Tony and Dani have each made important contributions to Apple over the past eight years,” Mr. Jobs added back in November. “We’re sorry to see Dani go, and are looking forward to working with Tony in his new capacity."

Papermaster has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Texas, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Vermont in 1988, according to Apple. He is also a member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Council at the University of Texas. Papermaster has 25 years of product and technology experience, and was previously a vice president at IBM.

Apple's Bios page should soon include Mark Papermaster as Senior Vice President of Devices Hardware Engineering, while the former IBM chip expert is to begin acting in his new role at Apple come April 24.