Deirdre O'Brien

Deirdre O'Brien studied operations management at Michigan State University and later earned an MBA from San Jose State University. She joined Apple in 1988 and held a succession of positions in operations, procurement and sales, including leading worldwide procurement for products such as the Mac.

Her career at the company has covered the operational side of Apple's hardware business as well as sales. After Angela Ahrendts left in 2019, she became senior vice president of retail and people, taking charge of the Apple Store network as well as the company's people team, which handles human resources.

Her work covers the operation of Apple's stores worldwide, with about 540 retail stores according to the company's most recent public count. O'Brien is a member of the executive team under CEO John Ternus. Her responsibilities include recruiting, employee programs, and the ongoing development of the store experience.

In the store organization she has presided over a gradual shift in the Apple Store experience, including remodeled flagships and the Today at Apple sessions that offer classes and workshops. Her portfolio is notable for combining customer-facing retail operations with the internal question of how Apple hires and supports its employees.