Top Apple executives on their way out

NEW YORK – Apple Inc. shook up its executive ranks Monday, saying the head of its store operations is leaving after just six months on the job and the long-serving head of its iPhone software development operations is exiting next year.

Apple didn’t say why retail senior vice president John Browett and iOS software SVP Scott Forstall were leaving, but both have presided over missteps this year.

Browett cut staffing hours at Apple’s retail stores, a move the company reversed and acknowledged as a mistake. Forstall’s division launched a software update in September that replaced Google Maps with Apple’s first mapping application. It quickly drew unfavorable comparisons to the software it was replacing, and Apple apologized.

Browett’s departure is immediate, and the company is looking for a replacement. Forstall will act as an adviser to CEO Tim Cook until he leaves, Apple said.

Apple credits Forstall as one of the original architects of Mac OS X.

Craig Federighi, who is now in charge of the Mac OS, will add iOS development to his responsibilities, Apple said, but Jony Ive, the chief designer behind Apple hardware, will take responsibility for the look and feel of Apple’s software.

Eddy Cue, head of Apple’s online services and iTunes, will assume responsibility for Maps and Siri, the “virtual assistant” application on the iPhone and iPad.