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Ive due $30m stock windfall, may seek relocation back to UK

by Michael Rose Feb 27th 2011 at 10:00AM

Other than Steve Jobs' brain, the mind most clearly at work in Apple's history of compelling and human-centric products belongs to Jonathan 'Jony' Ive, 44. After joining Apple in 1992, he rose to become the company's senior vice president of product design and has contributed his own clean, minimalist aesthetic to the wall of industrial design legends. With Tim Cook firmly established as the executive/operations lead on Apple's depth chart, anyone looking for the creative future of Apple has to have Ive at, or near, the top of the list.

Today's Times of London (behind paywall) reports that Ive is about to reap the rewards of his service and dedication. Ive received a 'golden handcuffs' option grant in 2008 when Apple's stock was at a low ebb of around $100, allowing him to buy shares that -- having remained in Apple's employ -- he is now eligible to sell. Ive's profits from these options could approach $30 million, thanks to the dramatic runup in AAPL over the past two years.

With his additional wealth -- his net worth after the options cash in is estimated at $128 million -- Ive and his wife Heather might want to move back to England with their twin sons. The Times suggests that Ive and the Apple board have "been at loggerheads" over Ive's desire to spend more time back home, but the Ives reportedly want to educate their children in England.

Ive owns a manor house worth about $4 million in Somerset. The paper quotes an anonymous friend of the Ives on the topic of a commute from the UK to Cupertino: "Unfortunately he is just too valuable to Apple and they told him in no uncertain terms that if he headed back to England he would not be able to sustain his position with them ... It's a shame. We hardly ever see anyone at the house."

Apple's spokesperson gave the Times a 'no comment' on the option grant and deemed the report of his desire to move to England "speculation."

Photo of John Lasseter & Jonathan Ive from wikimedia commons (cc)



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Other than Steve Jobs' brain, the mind most clearly at work in Apple's history of compelling and human-centric products belongs to...
 

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CB

seriously, another guy will take his job if he moves back to UK and the new person will do just fine. There are just way too many talents out there.

February 28 2011 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MRBlue

I really don't see the problem. With web conferencing and email how critical is it for him to really be on campus? So maybe he commutes to the States one week a month and the rest he does from a home office.

While Jobs may be steering the ship it's obvious who's holding the map.

February 28 2011 at 11:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
windows8forum

Maybe he think the education of English is better for his children. And i can't agree with this" "Unfortunately he is just too valuable to Apple..."

February 28 2011 at 3:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SIP

I wonder if this is yet another one of those nothing stories which are used to undermine confidence in Apple shares?

February 27 2011 at 7:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kronis

It's a Rumor and Speculation & this happens every year when a New Product is going to be Launched, Remember The iPad on March 2nd.

Now those who have a Brain will already be aware that this story is B.S, And this is all caused by those who want Apple Stock to drop before the iPad2 Launch.

Look back to the last 3 years and you will see a real outstanding Story made up to manipulate Apple Stock before a Product Announcement or launch.

Use your Brains People.

February 27 2011 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dan Aldrin

It would really be a stupid and silly move by the board to demand that Ive stayed in the US. Ive can get a job anywhere he wants, and Apple knows that very well.

But more important, Mr. Ive has shoved the world who the undisputed king of industry design is for a decade now. It is thanks to him that Apple is where it is today!

February 27 2011 at 6:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sleepd

If he is so valuable to Apple, then it seems that he is in the driver's seat and not the board.

February 27 2011 at 4:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Maurice Jenn

Jobs was the glue keeping things together.

As Jobs' presence eventually drops to nothing, other key personalities will realize that there's nothing that warrants them giving up their lives in the service of AAPL.

Another sign of the weakening of the glue is that there is a greater volume of leaks out of Cupertino than ever before.

Without Jobs' presence to police the troops, they feel freer to do their own thing.

February 27 2011 at 4:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mojo6411

Ive is overrated. While important, his greatest contribution is in helping to determine the look of the products. He copies Dieter Ram's industrial design ideas and gets kudos for the work of the really important guys, that is the technology creators, the software creators and even more importantly, the person/s who come up with the ideas for the products. Think of how often he is referred to as the designer of the iPod, for example. What does that really mean and what do you think when you hear that? He did not come up with the idea for the iPod, he did not create the technology, he did not create the software, but he was an important part of the final product. So why does he get so much credit, because too many equate design with invention. Ive is the weakest link in this successful team.

February 27 2011 at 12:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to mojo6411's comment
ramkanda

You're underestimating two of Apple's strongest pillars: design and marketing. There's a far closer and visceral tie in with a product than the sum of it's parts and just because Ive follows the same design philosophy as Dieter's (albeit very closely at times) it doesn't mean Apple pulled off a successful design by copying. Renaissance painters weren't less for having the same style as one another.

I'm sure Apple has trained others up in case Ive leaves but it would be a massive loss. It must be a tough decision for him. He obviously puts a lot of love into his work but, as an ex pat of the UK, I can understand missing it and wanting to raise your kids in a place where you grew up with so many fond memories.

February 27 2011 at 1:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Charli

forget being overrated. Ive is top brass. He has major access and details about Apple's plans for the next few years. No way is Apple going to let him walk away if there's no need for it. Especially if there is any chance that they can't legally block him from getting a job at another company and giving them access to even rejected ideas.

February 27 2011 at 3:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
A A

Looks like the board is making the same mistake that they did when they fired Steve Jobs.

In today's connected world it really does not matter where Ive's works, England or Cupertino.

Please Board don't be STUPID.

February 27 2011 at 12:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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