If there was ever any doubt that Apple is working on some kind of fancy digital wristwatch — insert your own speculation about what it might be called here — then a new bit of news is adding just that much more fuel to the manufacturing fire.
According to multiple sources, ranging from Jean-Claude Biver over at luxury goods conglomerate LVMH (which counts luxury watch manufacturer Tag Heuer among its subsidiaries), to unnamed sources speaking to 9to5Mac, to unnamed Tag Heuer sources talking to Reuters, Apple has poached Tag Heuer senior executive Patrick Pruniaux. Formerly Tag Heuer's vice president of sales and retail, Pruniaux had allegedly been with Tag Heuer for a number of years. His last day will be this coming Monday; after that, he'll join Apple in a yet unknown capacity.
Given Pruniaux's background, however, it's likely that he'll find a home among Apple's sales and marketing efforts for its likely-to-be-named iWatch. Interestingly, 9to5Mac reports that Apple was allegedly attempting to poach more people from Tag Heuer. However, Pruniaux is the only one who agreed to jump ship over to the budding digital watch manufacturer.
It's widely thought that Apple's wrist-based efforts — the speculation around which is doing a great job of instilling fear into various other smartwatch and fitness tracking manufacturers so far — are expected to produce a tangible product by September or October of this year.
The big unknown is just how Apple might merge together fashion and technology in its device, and how recent hires from the fashion world might help Apple make, market, and sell its to-be-unveiled watch. That includes Pruniaux, as well as Burberry's Angela Ahrendts (now Apple's senior vice president of retail and online sales), and Paul Deneve, former CEO of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent who is now working on "special projects" at Apple (and reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook directly). In other words, the iWatch — as many have been speculating.
Apple senior vice president of technologies Bob Mansfield is said to be leading up the iWatch project over at Apple HQ, alongside Apple vice president of technology Kevin Lynch and Apple's senior director of engineering, James Foster. Apple's overall "iWatch team" also pulls in a number of design, fitness, sensor, and engineering experts (to name a few categories), which gives a little more weight to the idea that Apple's wrist-based device will be as much a luxury item as it is a working fitness accessory.
"The iWatch will have the same status symbol power as many other Apple products, especially at the beginning. I personally believe it has the potential to be a threat for the industry, and it should not stay with its arms crossed," said Biver, in an interview with Reuters.
According to multiple sources, ranging from Jean-Claude Biver over at luxury goods conglomerate LVMH (which counts luxury watch manufacturer Tag Heuer among its subsidiaries), to unnamed sources speaking to 9to5Mac, to unnamed Tag Heuer sources talking to Reuters, Apple has poached Tag Heuer senior executive Patrick Pruniaux. Formerly Tag Heuer's vice president of sales and retail, Pruniaux had allegedly been with Tag Heuer for a number of years. His last day will be this coming Monday; after that, he'll join Apple in a yet unknown capacity.Given Pruniaux's background, however, it's likely that he'll find a home among Apple's sales and marketing efforts for its likely-to-be-named iWatch. Interestingly, 9to5Mac reports that Apple was allegedly attempting to poach more people from Tag Heuer. However, Pruniaux is the only one who agreed to jump ship over to the budding digital watch manufacturer.
It's widely thought that Apple's wrist-based efforts — the speculation around which is doing a great job of instilling fear into various other smartwatch and fitness tracking manufacturers so far — are expected to produce a tangible product by September or October of this year.
The big unknown is just how Apple might merge together fashion and technology in its device, and how recent hires from the fashion world might help Apple make, market, and sell its to-be-unveiled watch. That includes Pruniaux, as well as Burberry's Angela Ahrendts (now Apple's senior vice president of retail and online sales), and Paul Deneve, former CEO of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent who is now working on "special projects" at Apple (and reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook directly). In other words, the iWatch — as many have been speculating.
Apple senior vice president of technologies Bob Mansfield is said to be leading up the iWatch project over at Apple HQ, alongside Apple vice president of technology Kevin Lynch and Apple's senior director of engineering, James Foster. Apple's overall "iWatch team" also pulls in a number of design, fitness, sensor, and engineering experts (to name a few categories), which gives a little more weight to the idea that Apple's wrist-based device will be as much a luxury item as it is a working fitness accessory.
"The iWatch will have the same status symbol power as many other Apple products, especially at the beginning. I personally believe it has the potential to be a threat for the industry, and it should not stay with its arms crossed," said Biver, in an interview with Reuters.
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