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The company alleges that Michael Fenger violated a non-compete agreement by taking a job with a rival phone maker.

The lawsuit says that he accepted millions of dollars in cash, restricted stock units, and stock options" in exchange for agreeing not to join a competitor for two years.

Fenger joined Apple on 31 March as vice president of global iPhone sales, less than a month after leaving Motorola.

The suit also claims that Fenger, who now serves, also hired away two high-level Motorola employees who had access to Motorola's trade secrets and customer relationships, the suit said.

Motorola has asked the court to stop Fenger from working for Apple for two years and to bar him from soliciting or hiring Motorola employees or disclosing Motorola's confidential information. It also demands damages and repayment of stock options given to him in exchange for signing the non-compete agreement.

Apple declined to comment while Fenger could not be contacted.