14 DAY TRIAL // iPad 2 rumors and speculation aside, Apple’s design guru, Jonathan Ive is said to be moving back to the U.K., where he can spend more time with his family, away from Apple.
Originating from Essex, Jony Ive is the senior vice president of Industrial Design at Apple, reporting directly to CEO Steve Jobs.
Ive is considered to be one of the most valuable assets at Apple, as he is responsible for various breathtaking designs found in the company’s original iMac, iPods, and the iPhone.
Ive holds a Bachelor of Arts and an honorary doctorate from Newcastle Polytechnic, according to his profile page at Apple.
In 2003, the Design Museum London named Ive Designer of the Year, and awarded the man with the title of “Royal Designer for Industry by The Royal Society of Arts”.
“Since 1996 he has been responsible for leading a design team widely regarded as one of the world’s best,” Apple notes.
According to the rumor saying Ive is planning to leave Apple, it is thought that Ive and his wife Heather want to have their twin sons educated in Britain.
This has reportedly caused him to be “at loggerheads” with the Apple board, as he would not be able to keep his position within the company, should he move back to Britain.
While not the most likely heir to the CEO chair, Ive is nonetheless considered a good candidate for the job, with Steve Jobs expected to step down from his position as the head of Apple.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is currently on medical leave of absence. In January, Apple’s board of directors granted Jobs his third leave, following two others spanning several years.
Between 2009 and 2010, Jobs is known to have undergone a liver transplant, though it appears that the CEO is still in great need of medical attention.
Ive is a charismatic and well-spoken Apple exec., who keeps a close relationship with his boss, with whom he also shares his vision about product design.