**Alan Dye Exits Apple for Meta: A Change in Design Leadership**
Alan Dye, who has been the vice president of Human Interface Design at Apple since 2015, is preparing to leave the company to join Meta. This transition aligns with Meta’s approach to strengthening its portfolio of AI-enabled consumer devices, according to Bloomberg. Dye’s official start at Meta is set for December 31, 2025.
Steping into Dye’s position at Apple will be Stephen Lemay, a veteran in design with 26 years of experience at the company. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, voiced his confidence in Lemay’s skills, emphasizing his substantial contributions to Apple’s design heritage since 1999. Cook remarked, “Design is essential to our identity at Apple, and today, we have an exceptional design team working on the most groundbreaking product lineup in our history.”
Dye’s exit occurs as Apple’s executive leadership had been expecting modifications in its design leadership. At Meta, he will lead a new design studio concentrating on the amalgamation of hardware, software, and AI within the company’s product spectrum. Moreover, Billy Sorrentino, a design executive at Apple, is also departing to join Meta, reflecting a wider trend of talent transitioning from Apple to rival companies.
Throughout his time at Apple, Dye was crucial in several major projects, especially following the departure of famed designer Jony Ive in 2019. His latest accomplishments include overseeing the significant Liquid Glass redesign in iOS 26 and introducing a new design language at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. He also played a key role in the design of the Apple Vision Pro and visionOS.
This leadership change at Apple is part of a broader series of shifts within the organization. Recently, John Giannandrea, the senior vice president for Machine Learning and AI Strategy, declared his retirement, effective spring 2026. Other significant exits include COO Jeff Williams and CFO Luca Maestri, further indicating a transitional period for Apple. There is also speculation regarding Tim Cook’s possible departure as CEO, which may happen as early as next year.
The departure of crucial personnel isn’t confined to Apple alone; Jony Ive’s design agency, LoveFrom, and OpenAI have also recruited former Apple designers, collaborating on AI-driven hardware projects under the brand io.
As Apple experiences this transition phase, the effects of these leadership changes on its design ideology and product advancement remain to be observed.
