Key Apple scientist leaves ahead of strategy session
August 5, 1997 07:46 PM
By Kourosh Karimkhany
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 5 (Reuter) - Apple Computer Inc.'s head
scientist, Lawrence Tesler, has left the computer maker for a startup
software company just as Apple is about to unveil new products and a new
business strategy.
Tesler, who headed Apple's research and development efforts and guided
its technical direction, left Apple last Thursday. He will serve as president
of Cocoa Software, which writes children's software, an assistant at his
office at Cocoa said Tuesday.
Tesler's departure comes at an awkward time for Apple as the computer
maker prepares to unveil on Wednesday part of a new management team,
new products and possibly a revamped business strategy at the Macworld
trade show in Boston.
Steve Jobs -- the Apple co-founder who returned to the company in
December as a strategic advisor -- likely will announce the appointment of
new computer-savvy members to the board of directors. The leading
candidates are Larry Ellison, chairman of software company Oracle Corp.,
and John Warnock, chief executive of Adobe Systems Inc..
"There may be another board member or two" as well, said Lou
Mazzucchelli, analyst at investment bank Gerard Klauer Mattison in New
York.
Apple officials could not be reached immediately for comment about board
appointments and Tesler's departure. Cocoa officials said Tesler's parting
with Apple was amicable.
Apple had cut back on its research and development amid Jobs' influence
and heavy losses at the company. In recent months, Apple has
concentrated its technical resources on making less expensive personal
computers geared for publishing and educational markets.
Apple also is having a testy relationship with manufacturers of Macintosh
clones. Apple began licensing its Mac technology to other computer
makers a couple of years ago, but some at Apple are regretting the
decision now as the clone makers cut into Apple's sales.
Joel Kocker, chief executive ofiicer of the biggest clone maker Power
Computing Corp., publicly blasted Apple for dragging out software
licensing negotiations.
Kocker specifically criticized Jobs for his hostility toward licensing.
"It appears at this point that Steve's attitude toward licensing is permeating
throughout the organization," he said at a press conference at Macworld.
Kocher told the Macworld crowd that they should demonstrate when Jobs
speaks during the keynote speech on Wednesday to voice their support for
the clone makers.
Jobs, who is the chairman of Pixar Animation Studios, has assumed a more
powerful role at Apple since the departure last month of former Apple
Chairman and Chief Executive Gilbert Amelio.
Last week, several news organizations reported Jobs would be named
chairman of Apple while the company searched for a top-notch chief
executive to help boost Apple's revenues. However, Jobs told employees
of Pixar in an electronic mail message that he has no plans to leave Pixar.
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