Apple, Inc. AAPL is widely expected to launch a developer version of its mixed-reality headset at the Worldwide Developers Conference scheduled for June 5-9.
Thousands of employees have worked on the project, including executives, marketers and engineers, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in his weekly Power-On newsletter. He singled out a few who are critical to the 7+ year effort. The columnist called the upcoming launch one of the riskiest in decades.
Mike Rockwell: Rockwell, who is in charge of the product, led its development since 2016. He has helped craft the vision for the headset and the Technology Development Group itself and oversees the engineering of the product — from hardware to software to services.
Jeff Williams: Williams, Apple's chief operating officer and is often seen as CEO Tim Cook's heir apparent, has been a driving force in the headset's development for the last few years. He has conceptualized many of the device's use cases and its overall vision. His group is also in charge of manufacturing the equipment itself.
Dan Riccio: Riccio is Rockwell's boss and the conduit between the Technology Development Group and Apple's top executive team. He has worked exclusively on the headset over the past two years.
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Paul Meade: Meade is Rockwell's most senior lieutenant, handling hardware engineering for the device. Fletcher Rothkopf and Ray Chang, two key personnel, report to Meade.
Jony Ive: Though Ive had already moved to a part-time role at Apple by the early days of the headset, he was involved in the project since its inception. His role in the project included being instrumental in avoiding isolating designs, lobbying for a portable design and a smooth transition between virtual and augmented reality. Ive is now no longer with Apple.
Greg Joswiak: Joswiak is the company's marketing chief and one of the biggest proponents of the headset on Apple's executive team. While marketing the product, he will unlikely use the term metaverse, which has become a bane for Meta Platforms, Inc. META.
Phil Schiller: Schiller, Joswiak's longtime boss, isn't as involved in future product development, but is responsible for Apple's launch event for the device.
Frank Casanova: Casanova is the head of marketing for the headset.
Kim Vorrath: Like Meade, Vorrath is the lead engineering program manager, or EPM, on the project. She is responsible for making sure the team hits its deadlines. She's also in charge of quality control.
Jeff Norris: Norris was hired in 2017 from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to help figure out the "killer app" for the device.
Shannon Gans: Gans is in charge of mixed-reality content for the device and oversees dealings with Hollywood types.
Geoff Stahl: Stahl is responsible for much of the software that will run on the headset, including the new xrOS operating system. Other key software players include Ranjit Desai, Selim Ben Himane and Yaniv Gur.
Gurman noted that Cook is ultimately responsible for the product and for getting it over the line. "After more than a decade running Apple, this device could ultimately either strengthen or undermine his legacy," he said.
Apple closed Friday’s session at $175.16, up 0.06%, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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