Apple CEO John Ternus is continuing to reshape the company’s leadership, appointing a new mergers-and-acquisitions chief and reorganizing reporting lines across its finance and services divisions.
The latest leadership changes put veteran executive Steve Smith in charge of Apple’s deal-making team, replacing Adrian Perica, who is moving into a larger role within the services business.
Under the new structure, Smith will report to CFO Kevan Parekh, bringing mergers and acquisitions back under Apple’s finance division. Previously, Perica reported directly to Tim Cook.
The team oversees major deals and strategic partnerships, including arrangements such as Apple’s agreement with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri.
Changes Across Apple Services
Perica will now focus entirely on Apple’s services business, overseeing iCloud, Fitness+, and Apple News under services chief Eddy Cue.
He’s held those responsibilities since 2023, but the restructuring removes his previous deal-making duties.
Cue is also taking on additional App Store oversight after Phil Schiller left that role in August.
Carson Oliver, who has been managing the App Store’s daily operations, has been promoted to vice president and will report directly to Cue.
The changes put more of Apple’s services operations under a single leadership structure as the company continues to expand its subscription and digital businesses.
Who Could Succeed Eddy Cue?
The reorganization also raises questions about who will lead Apple’s services division.
Cue is reportedly considering potential successors, with Perica emerging as a leading candidate alongside Apple Music chief Oliver Schusser.
The position carries considerable influence over Apple’s App Store, subscription businesses, entertainment services, and partnerships with outside companies.
For Ternus, the restructuring is another early indication of how he intends to run Apple following his September 1 appointment as CEO.
Moving deal-making under the CFO while consolidating services responsibilities under Cue gives the two divisions clearer reporting structures as Apple prepares for its next generation of leadership.
