Tablet makers reshuffle executive teams amid product challenges
Writer： admin Time：2019-09-18 11:19:38 Browse：26℃
(Reuters) - In a notable example, a leading tablet maker'carried out one of its most sweeping executive shake-ups in a decade following embarrassing problems with its new mapping program and unpopular store-related decisions.
The software chief, who oversaw the launch of the flawed mapping software and a much criticized voice assistant, left the company and served as an advisor during the transition.
The executive behind the mapping app that the company announced with much fanfare had been seen as a polarizing figure inside the company and was once billed as a future candidate for the top job.
The moves, which came a little more than a year into the CEO''s tenure, were described by the company as a way to increase "collaboration" across its hardware, software and services business.
"These changes show that the leadership is stamping its authority on the business," one industry analyst said. "Perhaps disappointed with the Maps issues, the software chief became the scapegoat."
Critics of the maps debacle, which led the CEO to apologize to customers, had been calling for the executive''s departure. ""Does the company have an executive problem?"" one industry publication asked at the time.
The moves hand over substantially more responsibility to the head of Internet Software and Services, who helped create the company's music store and app store. The veteran executive already oversaw cloud services and took on maps and the voice assistant.
The company said a search was underway for a new retail chief to replace the previous head, and that the retail team would report directly to the CEO. The previous retail head had riled up store staff when he decided to reduce the number of retail employees.
The retail head took over as head of the company''s retail stores earlier that year, replacing a predecessor who went on to become the CEO of another retailer.
Earlier, the company delivered a second straight quarter of disappointing financial results, and tablet sales fell short of Wall Street''s targets, marring its record of consistently blowing past investor' expectations.