Apple security official quits over lost iPhone prototype

A senior official of Apple Inc. has left the company in the wake of a controversy involving the loss of an iPhone prototype in California earlier this year.

 

Enthusiast site 9to5mac.com identified the official as John Theriault, the company’s head of security operations.

 

"Theriault joined Apple in 2007 following over a decade of work at Pfizer Inc. where he served as the Chief Security Officer and as a Vice President. Prior to his professional career in the corporate environment, Theriault was a special agent in the (Federal Bureau of Investigation)," it said.

 

It said Theriault was responsible for all of the Apple’s security operations, even leading an anti-counterfeit team in 2008 against China’s counterfeit product market.

 

Also, it noted Theriault had reported to Apple Senior Vice President and General Counsel Bruce Sewell.

 

Last July, an Apple employee reportedly lost a prototype of what turned out to be the iPhone 4S.

 

The company’s security officers visited the home of the device’s supposed finder and allegedly offered him cash for the return of the phone.

 

9to5mac.com said Apple security officials reportedly even posed as police officers in searching for the lost prototype.

 

It noted Theriault’s came days after Apple Senior Vice President of Retail Ron Johnson departed for the CEO job at J.C. Penney, and the retirement of former Apple Senior Vice President of Mac OS X Bertrand Serlet; the leave of former Vice President of iAd Andy Miller; and the departure of lead Apple designer Sarah Brody to PayPal. — TJD, GMA News