IBM resolves legal dispute with its ex-staffer

Jan 28, 2009 11:32 GMT  ·  By

Apple has officially announced that the litigation between IBM and Mark Papermaster has been resolved and, as a result, Mark Papermaster would be coming to Apple as Senior Vice President of Devices Hardware Engineering, reporting to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, on April 24.

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, Apple reveals. 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.

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.

"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. Softpedia had earlier reported that IBM was suing Papermaster for fleeing off to the Mac maker before time (contract), while the "blade server guru" was known to possess highly-confidential IBM trade secrets and know-how.

The same November 2008 report revealed that Apple's senior vice president of the iPod Division, Tony Fadell, and his wife, Danielle Lambert, vice president of Human Resources, were “reducing their roles” within the company, to devote more time to their young family. While Fadell would remain part of Apple as an advisor to Steve Jobs, Lambert would 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."