Apple Names Jeff Williams As CEO
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TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015 Apple names Jeff Williams as CEO SAN JOSE: Apple named Jeff Williams as its out the system in early 2016, pending approval chief operating officer Thursday, a job that by regulators. China’s biggest shopping season hasn’t been filled since Tim Cook left the posi- comes ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, tion more than four years ago to become CEO. which begins Feb. 8. Williams has worked at Apple for about 17 Apple Pay is a late arrival in a Chinese elec- years and supervised the launch of the Apple tronic payments market dominated by Alipay, Watch, which went on sale earlier this year. The an arm of the e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, company said he played a “key role” in the which accounts for about 80 percent of transac- launch of the iPhone. tions. The system will allow UnionPay cardhold- Apple also announced on Thursday that it ers to make payments via Apple iPhones, Apple hired Tor Myhren from advertising company Watches and iPads. Apple and UnionPay said Grey Group to be vice president of marketing they have agreements with 15 Chinese banks to communications. He will start early next year support the system. and will oversee Apple’sadvertisements, web- Apple declined to say how the company and sites and product packaging. At Grey, Myhren UnionPay would divide the costs and revenues was chief creative officer and president of its of their venture. New York office. Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, California, also expanded the roles of two other Digital wallet executives. Apple announced a major partnership with It upped Johny Srouji’s position to senior vice China UnionPay on Thursday to put is digital president of hardware technologies from vice wallet to work in the world’s most populous president and said Senior Vice President of country. SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Vice President of Operations, Jeff Williams, discusses ResearchKit Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller would now China UnionPay customers will be able to during an Apple event in San Francisco. Apple named Williams as its new chief operating add Apple’s app store to his responsibilities. In add their bank cards to Apple Pay on iPhones, officer on Thursday a job that hasn’t been filled since Tim Cook left the position more afternoon trading, Apple shares slipped $1.95, iPads, or Apple Watch wearables, the companies than four years ago to become CEO. Williams has worked at Apple for about 17 years and or 1.7 percent, to $109.39. said in a joint statement. supervised the launch of the Apple Watch, which went on sale earlier this year. —AP “China is an extremely important market for Apple Pay Apple and with China UnionPay and support approval of Chinese regulators. Apple touts its reported having issued more than five billion Meanwhile, Apple Inc and China’s state- from 15 of China’s leading banks, users will soon digital wallet as letting people make purchases cards to date. Apple launched its digital wallet owned credit card processor announced plans have a convenient, private and secure payment easily and securely, encrypting and hiding away last year in a move capitalizing on the populari- yesterday to launch the smartphone-based experience,” said Apple senior vice president of personal data to thwart thieves. ty of its mobile devices and taking on rivals such Apple Pay electronic payment system in China. software and services Eddy Cue. The service UnionPay operates China’s national inter- as Google and PayPal, which are also competing Apple and China UnionPay said they plan to roll could be available early next year, pending bank clearing and settlement system and in the market. —Agencies CACI in the lead to buy Lockheed’s IT business NEW YORK: Defense contractor CACI International Inc has emerged as the top contender for Lockheed Martin Corp’s gov- ernment information technology (IT) business, as the interest of rival bidders fades, people familiar with the matter said. Leidos Holdings Inc and Engility Holdings Inc , which were also consider- ing offers, feel discouraged by the prospects of the assets for sale following meetings with Lockheed, the people said this week. Annual revenues for the government IT business are now between $4.5 billion and $5 billion, instead of the $6 billion ini- tially projected, the people said. CACI, however, remains interest- ed in a potential deal, the people added. To be sure, Lockheed may decide to spin off the government IT business rather than sell it outright, the people said. MOUNTAIN VIEW: Google’s new self-driving prototype car is presented during a demonstration at the Google campus in The strategic review of the business, which could fetch more Mountain View, California. California unveiled precedent-setting draft rules on Wednesday that would slow the public’s than $4 billion in a sale, was initially slated to conclude by the access to self-driving cars of the future until regulators are confident the technology is safe. —AP end of the year, but is now expected to finish in the first quarter of 2016. The sources asked not to be identified because the negotia- US vows ‘flexible’ approach tions are confidential. Lockheed, Leidos and Engility declined to comment, while CACI did not respond to a request for comment. A deal with CACI would create the largest government services on self-driving car rules contractor in the United States at a time of lower government spending, increased competition and delays in new contracts. Safety watchdog against patchwork of regulations Lockheed, the Pentagon’s largest supplier, is looking to pay down debt following its agreement in July to acquire Sikorsky Aircraft, WASHINGTON: The top US auto safety has asked the NHTSA to review those lations that would require all the helicopter unit of United Technologies Corp , for $9 billion in watchdog said he opposes a “patch- guidelines to ensure they do not hold autonomous cars to have a steering cash. work” of state regulations on driverless back innovations. “We need to figure wheel and throttle and brake pedals The talks between CACI, which has a market value of $2.4 bil- cars and promised a “nimble, flexible” out how to make sure this is not a patch- when operating on California’s public lion, and Lockheed revolve around a so-called Reverse Morris approach to writing new rules for self- work (of state regulations),” Rosekind roads citing safety concerns. A licensed Trust (RMT) deal for the assets, a transaction that would avert a driving vehicles. said on the sidelines of an event on driver would need to be in the driver’s hefty tax bill. Leidos and Engility could re-emerge as bidders at a Mark Rosekind, head of the National drunk driving. “We are pretty deep into seat ready to take over in the event later date, according to the sources. In addition, private equity Highway Traffic Safety Administration, looking at our regulatory framework something went wrong. Rosekind noted firms are also positioning for the assets, though a deal with them said the agency does not yet have a that we currently have.” “We keep talk- that Europe has a “patchwork” approach is unlikely given Lockheed’s attraction to the tax advantages of position on California’s proposal to bar ing nimble, flexible. Two years is like to driverless vehicle testing that is an RMT. This month, Lockheed’s Chief Financial Officer Bruce autonomous cars without a person in ancient now. That’s being reviewed,” “problematic.” NHTSA is reviewing Tanner said the company had seen “very high interest” in the the driver’s seat ready to take over. Rosekind said of the 2013 guidance. California’s rules, but states have wide services and information technology units. Tanner added that The proposal is opposed by innova- Rosekind said NHTSA is talking to authority to set state driving regula- Lockheed would put off a decision on selling or spinning off the tors in driverless cars, such as Google, state officials in an effort to “have some tions. Chris Urmson, the director of the units until early next year, explaining that it “tends to take a little but is consistent with NHTSA’s 2013 kind of national approach to this.” On Google self-driving project, said longer to handle that level of detail that is expected with more guidelines on driverless cars. Wednesday, the California Department California seemed to be shrinking back people involved in the process.”—Reuters Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx of Motor Vehicles proposed state regu- from its leadership.— Reuters.