Google CEO Eric Schmidt Steps Down From Apple's Board Of Directors
August 3, 2009
Apple today announced that Google CEO Eric Schmidt has decided to step down from Apple's Board of Directors due to potential conflicts of interest.
Schmidt had served on the Apple's Board of Directors since August 2006. The decision comes two months after the Federal Trade Commission launched a probe into the two companies to investigate whether the link possibly violated antitrust laws through unfair collaboration. Of course we can't forget about the current tensions between the two companies thanks to Apple rejecting Google's own Google Voice app from the App Store. Apple hasn't revealed who would be filling the vacant position, but it has been rumored that current COO Tim Cook could be the man for the job."Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple's Board."