Google CEO Resigns From Apple Board

By Marcus Yam, published on August 4, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , , , | Themes: The Internet, Business
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Google CEO Eric Schmidt leaves Apple's board of directors.

Apple today sent out a press release announcing the resignation of Google CEO Eric Schmidt from Apple's board of directors. Schmidt was on the board since August 2006.

The resignation stems from the increasing conflicts of interest between Apple and Google as the search giant enters more business areas that encroach upon the Cupertino computer maker's traditional turf.

"Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple's Board."

This news comes at an interesting time after Google has had several of its iPhone apps rejected from the App Store.

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Comments

warezme 08/04/2009 6:35 PM
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Apple - "does not play well with others"

Igot1forya 08/04/2009 6:44 PM
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"Apple today sent out a press release announcing the resignation of Google CEO Eric Schmidt from Apple's board of directors..."

...then Google purchased Apple, fired all the board members and changed the name from Apple to Applesauce.

chripuck 08/04/2009 6:59 PM
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Aren't you guys a little slow on this. I mean USA Today has this on their front page yesterday.

mrkenan 08/04/2009 7:00 PM
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it makes sense.

now this is gonna turn into how everyone thinks apple sucks, as it always does.

downer88 08/04/2009 7:02 PM
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How is someone that high up in two companies at once to begin with?

Phyre 08/04/2009 7:08 PM
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@downer88:

Good question! Exactly what I was thinking.

back_by_demand 08/04/2009 7:13 PM
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"How is someone that high up in two companies at once to begin with?"

- err, because they are all bent.

"Aren't you guys a little slow on this. I mean USA Today has this on their front page yesterday."

- that's because no one really gives a toss, really, who cares?

fulle 08/04/2009 7:16 PM
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Apple sucks!

Pei-chen 08/04/2009 7:21 PM
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LOL, Schmidt was thinking of becoming Secretary of Technology by help funding Obama's campaign. Now he lost both.

tayb 08/04/2009 7:57 PM
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This should have been news over a year ago. We have the Chrome OS on the horizon, Android, and the Chrome Browser directly competing with Apple products. What could have Apple possibly discussed in board meetings that Schmidt didn't have to recuse himself? What kind of punch to have at the company party?

fogartini 08/04/2009 8:27 PM
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RUN ERIC RUUUN!!

falconqc 08/04/2009 8:44 PM
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He got out of there before all the ipods started exploding.

hellwig 08/04/2009 8:46 PM
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It's amazing that just a few short months ago Apple and Google were not competitors in anyway, but in that short time Google created so much new software that the conflict of interest would be too great and he was forced to resign. Or..., Schmidt is an arrogant ass who didn't want to listen to those calling for his resignation, and wanted to leave on his own terms.

Still though, the announcement of the yet-to-exist Chrome OS surely was the deciding factor.

Jackass.

nukemaster 08/05/2009 12:29 PM
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mrkenan :
it makes sense.now this is gonna turn into how everyone thinks apple sucks, as it always does.


APPLE SUCKS!!!

had to...

back_by_demand 08/05/2009 8:53 AM
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Imagine the conversation in the boardroom...

"Alright, you can have my resignation and i'll take my $25 million in stock options... but i'm not happy!"

neiroatopelcc 08/05/2009 2:04 PM
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mrkenan :
it makes sense.now this is gonna turn into how everyone thinks apple sucks, as it always does.


is that surprising considering the simple truth - it does.

Anyway, I find it rather curious that a competators ceo is member of their board in the first place. I can't imagine any of our competators being part of ours!

back_by_demand 08/05/2009 3:01 PM
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I suppose it is difficult to extract experienced people from the "brain-trust" without conflicts of interest. A good example is when big companies like IBM do services, they have customers and competitors, sometimes the competitor is a customer. If they can happily juggle these scenarios with a minimum of fuss then having a fat stuffed shirt discussing policy and mission statements in the boardroom should be a doddle.

I feel absolutely no remorse for the loss of this persons job, he will have to find a way to drown his sorrows in his private pool, or work it out on the tennis court in his garden. If he is really really stressed out he can jump in his private helicopter and fly to Grand Cayman, draw out a few million and upgrade his Ferrari to the latest model. My heart bleeds for him and his woeful lack of employment.

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