Dan Riccio, a longtime Apple executive and key figure behind the company’s mixed-reality headsets, is retiring after 26 years. Riccio, who previously served as Apple’s hardware engineering chief and most recently led the Vision Products Group (VPG), will be stepping down this month. His role and team of engineers working on Apple’s headsets and related technologies will be overseen by John Ternus, Apple’s current head of hardware, with Mike Rockwell continuing to lead VPG’s day-to-day operations.
Riccio’s departure is one of the most significant exits from Apple’s leadership team in recent years. Having joined Apple in 1998, Riccio was instrumental in developing some of the company’s most iconic products, including the iPhone X, AirPods, and the iPad Pro. He also played a key role in launching the Vision Pro headset, a device seen as a stepping stone toward future innovations in augmented and virtual reality, despite initial challenges like weight, overheating, and a high price tag.
Known for his at-times abrasive style, Riccio was responsible for major hires and acquisitions during his tenure, even overseeing Apple’s now-abandoned self-driving car project. As he prepares to retire, Riccio plans to focus on the engineering program named after him at MIT, where he might teach or develop curriculum.
His retirement follows a pattern at Apple, with other executives like Phil Schiller and Luca Maestri transitioning into smaller roles as they step back from top positions. Riccio’s exit also signals a generational shift in Apple’s leadership, as several senior figures, including CEO Tim Cook, approach retirement age.