Lately it seems like top executives are playing a game of musical chairs, and it’s not happening in just one company.  Now Apple is the one shaking things up, as their head of security is leaving the company.

Apple’s Security Blunder

It was reported that in July, Apple lost one of their iPhone prototypes, which led to investigations spearheaded by Apple Vice President of Global Security John Theriault.  During the investigation, it was reported that Apple employees posed as police officers so they can enter the premises and search for the missing iPhone.

Theriault was a former FBI agent, which could be the reason for this type of undercover investigation.  According to AllThingsD, Theriault will be retiring, but according to 9to5mac, sources familiar with the matter said that the real reason for Theriault’s departure is the failed investigation on the lost iPhone.

Theriault isn’t the first executive to depart from Apple.   Days before Theriault’s departure, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail Ron Johnson departed for the CEO job at J.C. Penney, then there’s retirement of former Apple Senior Vice President of Mac OS X Bertrand Serlet.  There’s also the departure of former Vice President of iAd Andy Miller, as well as the leave of lead Apple designer Sarah Brody to PayPal.

It’s a controversial upheaval for Apple, especially as prototype security is a subject near and dear to the company’s heart.  With ongoing patent wars and a heightened sense of protectiveness around intellectual property, Apple is bound to face some fall-outs with its top-level executives as well as others working at the company.  And retaining an all-star team after the loss of Steve Jobs is just another challenge for Apple moving forward.

But Apple’s not the only one to lose an executive amidst controversy and transition.  HP recently lost Phil McKinney, vice president and chief technology officer of HP’s Personal Systems Group.  With questions raised around HP’s PC commitments and a steady rotation of CEO’s leading a variety of initiatives, McKinney felt it was time for him to leave the corporate environment all together.  It’s no wonder.