Apple’s cloud pro leaves the building

FRUIT THEMED PHONE FIRM Apple has lost one of its senior executives just before it launches its Icloud hosted service. Unfortunately for Apple, the man that left was rather good at that sort of thing.

The unexpected departure of John Herbold, senior product manager of Apple's forthcoming Icloud service, sees a five year veteran leave the cappuccino company's buildings. Although exits are common wherever you work, the fact that he headed up Apple's Mobileme, which was discontinued when Steve Jobs announced Icloud, is interesting.

"There's been a surprising amount of rumbling on Twitter and the blogosphere today regarding my departure from Apple. I'm both quizzical and flattered," wrote Herbold on his blog as he reacted to the reactions.

"I must give a big nod to Apple. It is an incredible company, and I was privileged to have a seat at the table over the past four years. I learned a tremendous amount and got to work with amazing people. It's an experience I will always cherish and never forget."

Although Apple does great things for humanity, like, um, Itunes, that's not enough for Herbold, so he has departed for new, more health focused pastures at Healthteacher, which develops training software for the healthcare industry. µ