She's No Stranger To Tech
During her time at Burberry, Ahrendts helped introduce digital platforms like Twitter and Facebook and enterprise software from Salesforce and SAP. "The approach makes Burberry a standout in the luxury business, which has historically shied away from technology for fear of eroding its aura of exclusivity," Fortune reported on the strategy.
She Means More Lifestyle At Apple
Despite her tech background, her hire "also serves to cement Apple’s decade-long transition from technology company to high-end lifestyle brand," according to Forbes. Ahrendts' predecessor at Apple came from Dixons, a big-box British retailer, and his predecessor came from Target. This hire continues the Apple's tradition of thinking big while striving to be an up-market brand.
She's Got Bank
Last year, Ahrendts was the highest paid chief executive in the FTSE 100 — a share index of the 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange — with a pay package of almost £17 million, or about $27 million. The Guardian reports that she's expected to double her income when she heads to Apple in the summer.
She's Not The First Female Apple Exec
While most of Apple's most powerful women serve at the vice-presidential level, Deborah Coleman worked at Apple in a variety of positions, including chief financial officer, VP of operations, and VP of information systems and technology.
Photo: Via Forbes.