Apple fitness VP retires
Apple’s VP of fitness technologies, Jay Blahnik, is retiring after harassment allegations and reports that about 10% of his team took mental‑health leave — a flashpoint for concerns about psychological safety at Apple. The departure intensifies scrutiny on leadership culture and succession as Apple marks its 50th year. (nytimes.com)
Jay Blahnik told employees he will retire this July and cited plans to “spend time with his family” and move to New York City, with several outlets reporting his age as 57 and a nearly 13‑year stint at Apple. (nytimes.com) Blahnik joined Apple in 2013 after years as a fitness consultant and is widely credited with shaping the Apple Watch’s Activity rings and leading the team that launched Apple Fitness+ on December 14, 2020. (macobserver.com, apple.com) Apple previously settled one sexual‑harassment complaint connected to Blahnik, while Apple has publicly disputed other reports and said internal reviews did not find evidence of wrongdoing. (nytimes.com, appleinsider.com) A separate suit filed by former employee Mandana Mofidi was lodged on December 3, 2024 in Los Angeles County Superior Court (case filed as Mofidi v. Apple Inc.), and multiple reports say that case is scheduled for trial in 2027. (unicourt.com, dataconomy.com) Reporting that nine current and former staff described abusive behavior also noted Blahnik oversaw roughly a 100‑person fitness organization and that “more than 10” employees sought extended medical or mental‑health leave since 2022 — roughly a 10% figure cited in coverage. (appleinsider.com) Apple moved health and fitness under Services leadership in October 2025, placing the groups under Sumbul Desai with Eddy Cue gaining oversight of health and fitness — a reporting structure now relevant to who will manage the Fitness organization through Blahnik’s July exit. (bloomberg.com)
