Bertrand Serlet, Mac OS X Software Pioneer, Leaving Apple

**Michael Essany** · 03-23-2011, 09:25 AM

A veteran in the Cupertino, California offices of Apple is leaving the company he worked for or alongside for nearly a quarter century. Toiling closely with Apple chief and founder Steve Jobs through the most challenging and triumphant days in the venerable tech company's long history, Mac OS X software pioneer Bertrand Serlet has announced his departure from the company to which he's contributed a great deal.

Apple made the announcement of Serlet's departure on Wednesday morning via press release. According to Apple, Bertrand Serlet, Apple’s senior vice president of Mac Software Engineering, will be replaced by Craig Federighi, Apple’s current vice president of Mac Software Engineering. Federighi will report to Steve Jobs. In an obvious attempt to pacify both Apple fans and investors, the company is stressing that Federighi is not only up for the job, he's also been an integral part of the development of Mac OS X. For the past two years, Federighi has managed the Mac OS software engineering group.

“I’ve worked with Steve for 22 years and have had an incredible time developing products at both NeXT and Apple, but at this point, I want to focus less on products and more on science,” said Serlet, who was once believed to have been a possible contender to replace Steve Jobs as CEO should the need for transition arise. “Craig has done a great job managing the Mac OS team for the past two years," Serlet says of Federighi. "Lion is a great release and the transition should be seamless.”

According to Apple, Serlet officially joined Apple in 1997, and "has been involved in the definition, development and creation of Mac OS X, the world’s most advanced operating system." Serlet's working relationship with Apple, however, goes way back. Prior to joining Apple, Serlet spent four years at Xerox PARC, then joined NeXT with Steve Jobs in 1989.

Source: Apple

**rabbit_** · 03-23-2011, 09:27 AM

Oh well out with the old and in with the new

**feidhlim1986** · 03-23-2011, 09:39 AM

Hmmm not sure I like this. I'd prefer that the Jony Ive rumors were true rather than Bertrand Serlet leaving.

**thetoothfairy** · 03-23-2011, 10:12 AM

Don't know if this is a good thing or not....

**CynicalDriver** · 03-23-2011, 10:37 AM

If the last two years of update issues are any indication... This is very sad news indeed.

**Be Expressive** · 03-23-2011, 10:43 AM

Sad day for Mac

**feidhlim1986** · 03-23-2011, 10:45 AM

I don't want iOS to take more priority from OS X and I don't want iOS to spill further into OS X

**EskimoRuler** · 03-23-2011, 11:32 AM

so i wonder where he wants to go to work more with science

but i guess lion was the final straw, good luck to you man

**Drizahy** · 03-23-2011, 12:01 PM

Wonder if he is leaving after a possible close door meeting for plans if/after Steve Jobs departs from Apple. Would make some people want to leave if the thought they would be next and were no considered.

**Eagleye** · 03-23-2011, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by feidhlim1986

Hmmm not sure I like this. I'd prefer that the Jony Ive rumors were true rather than Bertrand Serlet leaving.

Are you kidding? Have you seen other mockups for Apple stuff.. they're horrible! Jony has such a minimalist clean and innovative style that cant be matched. There are a lot more good Serlet's out there than Ive's.

**steve-z17** · 03-23-2011, 02:56 PM

Time will tell if this is good or bad.

**The Maestro** · 03-23-2011, 03:01 PM

I loved the way this guy said snow leypod, big loss

**feidhlim1986** · 03-23-2011, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Eagleye

Are you kidding? Have you seen other mockups for Apple stuff.. they're horrible! Jony has such a minimalist clean and innovative style that cant be matched. There are a lot more good Serlet's out there than Ive's.

Mockups would imply photoshopped pics by fans

Jony Ive doesn't design everything on his own, just as Bertrand Serlet doesn't code and design all of OS X, but at the end of the day I'd prefer a great OS running on ugly looking hardware, rather than a crappy OS running on beautiful looking hardware.

**ty22** · 03-23-2011, 08:12 PM

I saw this coming when he wasn't at the lion event. Anyway, if his leaving causes OSX to be more like iOS, I will die.

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