Apple’s Vice President of iPhone and iPod Engineering David Tupman quietly exited the company at the end of 2011, sources say, and a replacement has not yet been named. Tupman, who reported directly to Senior Vice President of Hardware Bob Mansfield, has not updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect the change but is said to be taking up with a new startup operation. Apple is seeking a replacement for Tupman within its own ranks.
Possible candidates to replace Tupman include current Vice President of iPhone and iPod Design Steve Zadesky and Director of iPod and iPhone Engineering Vic Alessi. Tupman’s departure comes on the heels of rumors that the entire iPod line will be undergoing a shakeup this year, and he joins a number of other mid- and high-level executives who have recently left the company, including former Global Security head John Theriault and iAd chief Andy Miller.
