Google boss resigns from Apple board

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 3 Aug 2009 at 14:06

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt has resigned from the Apple board, citing the growing overlap between the two businesses.

"Eric has been an excellent board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful," says Apple chief executive, Steve Jobs, in a statement.

"Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple's Board."

The resignation takes place immediately and brings to an end Schmidt's three-year stint on the Apple board.

The resignation also ends a Federal Trade Commission inquiry into whether Schmidt's position on the boards of Apple and Google violates antitrust laws.

When the investigation was launched back in May, Schmidt was adamant he would not quit the board, claiming "Google does not see Apple as a primary competitor."