Apple’s vice president for diversity and inclusion, Denise Young Smith, is leaving the company after six months in the role, according to TechCrunch.
The report says she will be replaced by Christie Smith, previously a managing principal at Deloitte.
Apple did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment but confirmed Christie Smith’s role in a statement to TechCrunch.
“We deeply believe that diversity drives innovation,” a representative told the news outlet. “We’re thrilled to welcome an accomplished leader like Christie Smith to help us continue the progress we’ve made toward a more diverse workplace.”
Though Denise Young Smith last month made controversial comments about diversity, she apparently had already made up her mind to leave Apple, the TechCrunch report said.
Speaking at the One Young World Summit in Colombia in October, Smith said, “There can be 12 white, blue-eyed, blond men in a room and they’re going to be diverse too because they’re going to bring a different life experience and life perspective to the conversation.”
Her comments drew immediate criticism at a time of extreme sensitivity around the topic of diversity in Silicon Valley. Smith backtracked a few days later.
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