Apple’s vice president of fitness technologies, Jay Blahnik, will retire this summer after nearly 13 years at the company, with his exit drawing attention due to past allegations about workplace conduct and leadership issues tied to the Fitness+ team.
The New York Times reports that Blahnik, who joined Apple in 2013, played a key role in shaping the Apple Watch’s fitness identity, including the widely used Activity rings feature, while later leading the Apple Fitness+ subscription service focused on guided workouts and wellness programs.
Under his leadership, employees described the work environment as difficult, with several raising concerns about behavior that they called “verbally abusive, manipulative and inappropriate,” while more than ten team members reportedly took extended mental health or medical leave since 2022.
“Verbally abusive, manipulative and inappropriate,” current and former employees said, describing Jay Blahnik’s leadership at Apple Fitness+. — The New York Times
Apple confirmed that Blahnik, 57, will step down in July and said in an internal email that he plans to spend time with family and relocate to New York City, while the company declined to comment on succession plans or ongoing legal matters.
At the same time, Apple settled one complaint related to sexual harassment allegations, and a separate lawsuit filed by employee Mandana Mofidi, who accused Blahnik of bullying, is set to go to trial next year, keeping scrutiny on his tenure as he exits the company.
