Apple's top designer is leaving the company three years after taking over from Jony Ive

Apple's vice president of concern design, Evans Hankey, is leaving the company, Apple confirmed to CNBC connected Friday.

Hankey took implicit for erstwhile Apple plan main Jony Ive 3 years agone erstwhile helium near to commencement his ain autarkic firm. Hankey has been liable for overmuch of Apple's concern plan work, from the look and consciousness of the company's hardware to the methods utilized to nutrient them successful ample volumes.

Hankey was ne'er arsenic recognized arsenic Ive, who is known in Apple lore arsenic 1 of the cardinal minds down the instauration of the iMac, iPod and iPhone. Still, she was often quoted successful the media aft caller products were launched, discussing circumstantial plan decisions and the mode Apple's plan squad works.

Ive was adjacent with Apple laminitis Steve Jobs and reported straight to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Hankey reported to Jeff Williams, Apple's COO.

Hankey worked intimately with Alan Dye, who was successful complaint of the look and consciousness of Apple's software, and who volition stay astatine the company, according to Bloomberg News, which archetypal reported Hankey's departure.

Apple hasn't named a replacement for Hankey, according to Bloomberg News, but the institution told CNBC successful a connection that she volition stay astatine the institution to negociate the transition.

"Apple's plan squad brings unneurotic adept creatives from astir the satellite and crossed galore disciplines to ideate products that are undeniably Apple. The elder plan squad has beardown leaders with decades of experience. Evans plans to enactment connected arsenic we enactment done the transition, and we'd similar to convey her for her enactment and contributions," an Apple typical said successful a statement.

Apple banal was mostly unchanged connected the news, rising little than 1% connected Friday during intraday trading.