Apple has lost its vice president of diversity and inclusion, Denise Young Smith, just six months after she was hired for the newly created role, TechCrunch reports.
The tech giant known for its high-profile products and sleek designs is, like every other tech company, beleaguered by diversity issues.
To course-correct the lack of representation by women and minorities in its company, Apple brought on Denise Young Smith as its first-ever vice president of diversity and inclusion in May of this year. She previously served as Apple’s head of worldwide human resources for three years.
Christie Smith, who spent 17 years as a principal at Deloitte, will be taking on Young Smith's duties as VP of diversity and inclusion. It isn't clear what Young Smith's next move will be.
Under Young Smith's eye, Apple recently released a diversity report.
Overall, the report found that slight gains were made for certain minorities for the 2016/2017 year compared to the 2015/2016 year.
The report found that in the U.S., the company is 13 percent Latinx (up one percentage point from the previous year), 9 percent black (no change), 21 percent Asian (up two percentage points), 3 percent multiracial (up one percentage point) and one percent other (no change).
Critics pointed out that those numbers included retail employees at Apple's stores, and that the executive ranks of the company are overwhelmingly white and male.
In fact, even major shareholder Tony Maldonado has called on Apple several times to implement an “accelerated recruitment policy” in an effort to increase diversity at the leadership and board of directors levels. However, Apple's board of directors has repeatedly shot down this request, stating that it is not necessary or appropriate.
Because no statement has been made as to why Young Smith is leaving, some have wondered if she was asked to leave after making controversial statements at a conference.
At that meeting, she publicly said, "And I’ve often told people a story – there can be 12 white blue-eyed blonde men in a room and they are going to be diverse too because they’re going to bring a different life experience and life perspective to the conversation."
While that obviously didn't go over well, TechCrunch reports that Young Smith wanted to transition out of her role even before that kerfuffle.
Although Young Smith's new role in the Valley hasn't been announced yet, the Cornell Chronicle recently reported that she will head to the school as an executive-in-residence.