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Former Yves Saint Laurent CEO hired by Apple to work on wearables?
Wednesday 3rd July 2013 | Cynthia
In May 2013, Apple chief executive Tim Cook divulged that the company would release more “game changers” like the iPod, iPhone and iPad along with hinting at wearable devices, personal accessories with embedded sensors, displays and other digital technologies like, for instance, the Google glasses. “It’s ripe for us all getting excited about. I think there will be tons of companies playing in this”, he said. According to a report issued by Credit Suisse, the “wearables” market is set to explode, reaching 19.5 billion pounds approximately and will have a significant and pervasive impact on the economy.
But who is to advise Apple on the design and marketing of wearable technology? Who better than a former Apple employee with 12 years of experience running luxury fashion brands?
Yesterday, the fashion industry was shaken by the news that Paul Deneve, chief executive of Yves Saint Laurent, was leaving the label for what he defined as a new career opportunity in the high-tech industry” in Silicon Valley. It now appears that Deneve is set to join Apple: “we are thrilled to welcome Paul Deneve to Apple”, the company said, “he’ll be working on special projects as a vice president reporting directly to Tim Cook.”
Apple is famous for having applied the rules of luxury fashion to the marketing of its devices. In that light, it is perfectly conceivable that Deneve, who was a sales and marketing manager at Apple Europe from 1990 to 1997, is set focus on marketing.
Only time will tell the exact work that will come of this union, but so far, it is pretty exciting news.
Written by Cynthia Bifani
