Apple's Chief People Officer Carol Surface exits after 20-month tenure

Carol Surface has stepped down as Apple's Chief People Officer after nearly two years with the company. Surface, who joined Apple in April 2023, was tasked with leading the company's human resources operations as part of a strategy to streamline leadership in this area, as reported by the media.

Her appointment had previously allowed Deirdre O’Brien, Senior Vice President of People and Retail, to shift her focus exclusively to Apple's retail division. Now, following Surface's exit, O'Brien is set to resume oversight of both the retail and human resources teams.

As head of the People team, Surface was responsible for advancing employee engagement, professional development, and overall employee well-being across Apple’s global workforce. Her role also involved managing areas like Apple University, hiring, employee relations, benefits, compensation programs, and driving diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Prior to joining Apple, Surface was Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Medtronic. Her career began at PepsiCo and also included experience at Best Buy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Castleton University and a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology from Central Michigan University.