Apple rebuffs CEO rumors, bids two more execs adieu

As several Apple executives took their leave this week, the company said not to read too much into interim CEO Steve Jobs' recent comments on making his role permanent.

Departing the company are Dave Manovich, senior vice president of international sales, and James McCluney, senior vice president of worldwide operations.

Apple said Mitch Mandich, senior vice president for North American sales, will take over as interim head of international sales. Heidi Hedlund, senior director of operations/product management, was named interim head of worldwide operations.

Meanwhile, the company backpedaled on Jobs' comments at this month's keynote address at the Macromedia Inc.'s 1997 User Conference in San Francisco (see 10.13.97, Page 1). At the show, Jobs seemed to hint that he might be willing to accept the mantle of CEO for the long haul.

Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton said Jobs' comments should not be taken as an announcement. "He only said he was going to Hawaii to take a walk on the beach, chill out and think. That's all."