Scott Forstall

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Scott Forstall
Forstall in 2012
Scott Forstall
BornScott James Forstall
27 12, 1969
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSoftware engineer, Broadway producer
EmployerNeXT (1992–1997), Apple Inc. (1997–2012)
Known forLeading iPhone and iPad software development; Senior Vice President of iOS Software at Apple Inc.
AwardsTony Award (co-producer, Fun Home)

Scott James Forstall (born December 27, 1969) is an American software engineer and Broadway producer who played a central role in the creation of one of the most commercially significant consumer technology products in history — the iPhone. Forstall spent nearly two decades at Apple Inc., rising from a software engineer who had followed Steve Jobs from NeXT to become the Senior Vice President of iOS Software, the division responsible for the operating system powering the iPhone and iPad. Often described within Apple as a "mini Steve Jobs" for his product instincts and demanding management style, Forstall led the team that built iOS from its inception through six major releases.[1] His departure from Apple in October 2012, following the troubled launch of Apple Maps, marked a significant organizational shift at the company. After leaving Apple, Forstall transitioned to Broadway theater production, co-producing the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home and the play Eclipsed with his wife, Molly Forstall. In 2025, reports indicated he had begun advising The Browser Company, the startup behind the Arc and Dia web browsers.[2]

Early Life

Scott James Forstall was born on December 27, 1969. He grew up in a family with roots in Kitsap County, Washington.[3] Details about his childhood and upbringing remain limited in public accounts, though his later career trajectory suggests an early aptitude for technology and computer science. Forstall attended Stanford University, where he studied computer science and developed an interest in object-oriented programming and software design. His time at Stanford would prove consequential, as it connected him to the intellectual networks around Silicon Valley and, ultimately, to NeXT Computer, the company founded by Steve Jobs after his initial departure from Apple.[4]

Forstall joined NeXT in the early 1990s, where he worked on the NeXTSTEP operating system. NeXTSTEP was considered technically advanced for its era, featuring an object-oriented framework that influenced the development of modern operating systems. At NeXT, Forstall gained experience in building software platforms and working under the direct leadership of Steve Jobs — an experience that shaped his approach to product development and management for the rest of his career.[1]

Education

Forstall studied computer science at Stanford University.[4] Stanford's proximity to Silicon Valley and its strong computer science program placed Forstall in an environment where academic research and commercial technology development frequently intersected. His education at Stanford provided the technical foundation for his subsequent work on operating systems at NeXT and Apple. Forstall later returned to Stanford in 2007 to speak at a junior convocation event following the launch of the iPhone, reflecting the university's ongoing connection to its alumni in the technology industry.[4]

Career

NeXT (1992–1997)

Forstall began his professional career at NeXT Computer, the company Steve Jobs had founded in 1985 after leaving Apple. At NeXT, Forstall worked on the NeXTSTEP operating system, which utilized Objective-C and an advanced object-oriented software framework. NeXTSTEP was notable for its developer tools and its use of the Mach microkernel, and it would later form the technological foundation for Apple's Mac OS X.[1]

Forstall's work at NeXT brought him into close professional contact with Steve Jobs and a cohort of engineers who would become central figures at Apple following the 1997 acquisition of NeXT. The acquisition, which brought Jobs back to Apple, also brought Forstall and many of his NeXT colleagues into Apple's engineering ranks.

Apple Inc. (1997–2012)

Mac OS X Development

When Apple acquired NeXT in 1997 for approximately $429 million, Forstall transitioned to Apple along with the rest of the NeXT engineering team. Under the leadership of Avie Tevanian, Apple's then-chief software technology officer, Forstall contributed to the development of Mac OS X, the next-generation operating system that replaced the aging Mac OS 9. Mac OS X was built upon the NeXTSTEP foundation, and the engineers who had developed NeXTSTEP — including Forstall — played instrumental roles in its creation.[5]

Forstall rose through Apple's software engineering ranks during this period. He worked on key Mac OS X technologies and frameworks, and he was involved in the development of the Safari web browser. Don Melton, who led the Safari team, later recounted the secrecy surrounding the project and the small team of engineers involved in its early development.[6] Forstall's ability to manage complex software projects and navigate Apple's internal politics helped him advance to positions of increasing responsibility.

iPhone Software Development

Forstall's defining career achievement was leading the software development for the original iPhone, which launched in June 2007. According to accounts of the iPhone's development, Steve Jobs tapped Forstall to lead the effort to create a mobile operating system based on a modified version of Mac OS X, rather than building an entirely new system or using an existing mobile platform.[7]

The iPhone software project, internally known by the codename "Purple," was conducted under extreme secrecy within Apple. Forstall recruited engineers from across the company's Mac OS X team, often without being able to tell them what they would be working on until they had agreed to join and passed through additional security protocols. The development area was reportedly sealed off with security badges and cameras, and team members were sworn to secrecy.[7]

Forstall later spoke publicly about the iPhone development process at an event hosted by the Computer History Museum in 2017. He described the technical challenges of adapting a desktop operating system for a device with limited memory, processing power, and battery life, as well as the invention of the multi-touch interface that became one of the iPhone's signature features.[8]

The iPhone launched on June 29, 2007, and became a commercial and cultural phenomenon. Its software — later branded as iPhone OS and then iOS — was central to the device's appeal, enabling the touch-based interface, visual voicemail, mobile Safari web browsing, and other features that distinguished it from existing smartphones.

Senior Vice President of iOS Software

Following the iPhone's launch and subsequent success, Forstall was elevated to the position of Senior Vice President of iOS Software, making him one of the most prominent executives on Apple's leadership team. In this role, he oversaw the continued development of iOS, including the launch of the App Store in 2008, which transformed the iPhone into a platform for third-party software and created an entirely new software economy.[1]

Under Forstall's leadership, iOS expanded from the iPhone to the iPod Touch and, in 2010, to the iPad. Each new version of iOS introduced features that kept Apple's mobile devices competitive and, in many cases, set industry standards. Forstall became a regular presence at Apple keynote events, presenting new iOS features alongside Steve Jobs and, later, Tim Cook.[1]

Bloomberg Businessweek profiled Forstall in October 2011, describing him as "the Sorcerer's Apprentice at Apple" — a reference to his close relationship with Steve Jobs and his role as one of the most likely successors to Jobs's product leadership. The profile noted Forstall's reputation for being intensely focused on product detail and for running his division with a management style that some colleagues found difficult.[1] Forbes later described Forstall as a "mini Steve" within Apple's corporate culture, referencing both his product sensibility and his confrontational management approach.[9]

Forstall was also a proponent of skeuomorphism in iOS interface design — the practice of designing digital interfaces to mimic the appearance and textures of real-world objects. Under his leadership, iOS applications featured design elements such as leather textures, wood grain, felt surfaces, and realistic paper textures. This design philosophy became a point of internal contention at Apple, with Jony Ive, the company's head of industrial design, reportedly favoring a more minimalist aesthetic.[10]

Apple Maps and Departure

In September 2012, Apple released iOS 6, which included Apple Maps as a replacement for the previously integrated Google Maps application. The launch of Apple Maps was met with widespread criticism from users and media. The application contained numerous errors, including misplaced landmarks, distorted satellite imagery, and inaccurate directions. The problems were significant enough that a Tumblr blog documenting Apple Maps errors attracted substantial attention.[11] CEO Tim Cook issued a public apology for the Maps problems and suggested users try alternative mapping applications — an unusual step for Apple.[12]

On October 29, 2012, Apple announced a major organizational restructuring. Scott Forstall was to leave the company, with his departure to be completed by 2013. His responsibilities were divided among several other executives: Jony Ive assumed oversight of human interface design across the company, Craig Federighi took over iOS software engineering, and Eddy Cue assumed responsibility for Maps and Siri.[13]

Reports from multiple outlets indicated that the Apple Maps debacle was not the sole reason for Forstall's departure. According to Business Insider, Forstall had refused to sign a public apology letter for the Maps problems, and tensions between Forstall and other members of Apple's executive team — particularly Jony Ive — had been escalating for some time.[14] BGR reported that Forstall and Ive had reached a point where they could barely be in the same meeting together, and that their disagreements over design direction — particularly regarding skeuomorphism — had become a significant management problem.[15]

CNET compared Forstall's departure to the simultaneous exit of Steven Sinofsky from Microsoft, noting that both were talented but polarizing executives whose management styles ultimately proved incompatible with their respective organizations' needs.[16] The Wall Street Journal reported on the broader implications of the reorganization for Apple's corporate structure and product direction.[17]

Some former Apple employees later argued that Forstall's dismissal was a mistake. A report by Business Insider featured a former employee's assessment that Forstall's departure removed one of the strongest product-focused voices from Apple's leadership.[18]

Prior to his departure, Forstall had sold approximately 95% of his Apple shares, a transaction worth roughly $38.7 million, in May 2012.[19]

Post-Apple Career

Broadway Producing

After leaving Apple, Forstall maintained a low public profile for several years. Business Insider reported in December 2013 that Forstall had been spending time on various personal interests, including attending Broadway shows and engaging with the theater community.[20]

Forstall and his wife, Molly Forstall, became Broadway producers, co-producing the musical Fun Home, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2015. They also co-produced the play Eclipsed, written by Danai Gurira and starring Lupita Nyong'o, which opened on Broadway in 2016. This transition from Silicon Valley to Broadway represented an unusual career pivot for a technology executive of Forstall's stature.

Technology Advisory Work

In May 2025, it was reported that Forstall had been advising The Browser Company, the startup behind the Arc web browser and the newer Dia browser. Josh Miller, CEO of The Browser Company, confirmed Forstall's advisory involvement in connection with the company's strategic decision to shift focus from Arc to Dia.[2] BGR had also previously reported in 2015 that Forstall had been advising Snapchat.[21]

Personal Life

Forstall is married to Molly Forstall. The couple has collaborated on Broadway producing ventures, including the Tony Award-winning Fun Home and Eclipsed.[20] The Forstall family has connections to Kitsap County, Washington.[3]

Forstall has generally maintained a private personal life, particularly after his departure from Apple. His rare public appearances in the technology sphere have included the 2017 Computer History Museum event where he spoke at length about the development of the original iPhone for the first time since leaving Apple.[8]

Recognition

Forstall's primary recognition stems from his role in the development of the iPhone and iOS, products that fundamentally changed the mobile computing and telecommunications industries. The iPhone, which launched in 2007, is credited with popularizing the smartphone form factor and touch-based interface that became the standard for mobile devices worldwide.

As Senior Vice President of iOS Software, Forstall was one of Apple's most visible executives during a period of extraordinary growth for the company. Bloomberg Businessweek's 2011 profile identified him as one of the leading candidates to eventually succeed Steve Jobs.[1]

In the theater world, Forstall earned recognition as a co-producer of Fun Home, which won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical, based on Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir, was the first Broadway musical with a lesbian protagonist to win the top Tony Award.

The Cult of Mac and The Mac Observer have continued to publish retrospective articles about Forstall's tenure at Apple and the circumstances of his departure, reflecting the ongoing interest in his career within the Apple enthusiast community.[22][23]

Legacy

Forstall's legacy is defined primarily by his role in the creation of iOS and the iPhone software platform. The operating system he led from its inception through iOS 6 became the foundation upon which Apple built what would become its largest revenue-generating product line. The App Store, which launched under his leadership in 2008, created an ecosystem that generated billions of dollars in revenue for Apple and for third-party developers.

Following Forstall's departure, Apple undertook a significant redesign of iOS under the design leadership of Jony Ive. iOS 7, released in June 2013, abandoned the skeuomorphic design language that had characterized iOS under Forstall in favor of a flatter, more minimalist aesthetic. The shift was one of the most visually dramatic changes in iOS history and was directly linked to the reorganization that accompanied Forstall's exit.[10] Ben Thompson of Stratechery noted that the organizational changes following Forstall's departure reflected Tim Cook's distinct approach to managing Apple compared to Steve Jobs.[24]

The debate over whether Forstall's departure benefited or harmed Apple has continued in technology commentary for years after the event. Some commentators have argued that his removal eliminated a strong product-focused voice from Apple's leadership at a critical time, while others contend that the organizational dysfunction his management style contributed to necessitated the change.[18] MacDailyNews in 2025 published commentary reflecting on Steve Jobs's original expectations for Apple's leadership, with some observers drawing connections to Forstall's departure and the company's subsequent product direction.[25]

9to5Mac noted in December 2025 that Apple's design culture continued to evolve years after the departures of both Forstall and, later, Jony Ive, with ongoing organizational changes reflecting the lasting impact of the 2012 restructuring.[26]

Forstall's 2025 advisory role at The Browser Company suggested a continued interest in shaping technology products, even if in a less visible capacity than his Apple years.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Scott Forstall, the Sorcerer's Apprentice at Apple".Bloomberg Businessweek.2011-10-12.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-10-12/scott-forstall-the-sorcerers-apprentice-at-apple.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Scott Forstall Has Been Advising The Browser Company".Daring Fireball.2025-05-27.https://daringfireball.net/linked/2025/05/27/forstall-the-browser-company.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Anniversary: Forstall 45 Years".Kitsap Sun.http://www.kitsapsun.com/lifestyle/announcements/anniversary-forstall-45-years.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Junior Convocation Featuring iPhone".Stanford University.2007-09.http://tusb.stanford.edu/2007/09/junior_convocation_featuring_i.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Adios Avie".San Francisco Chronicle.2006-03-27.http://blog.sfgate.com/techchron/2006/03/27/adios-avie/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Keeping Safari a Secret".Don Melton.2013-01-03.https://donmelton.com/2013/01/03/keeping-safari-a-secret/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "One Device: The Secret History of iPhone".The Verge.2017-06-13.https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/13/15782200/one-device-secret-history-iphone-brian-merchant-book-excerpt.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Creating Magic: A Conversation with Original iPhone Engineers — Software Team Lead Scott Forstall".Computer History Museum.http://www.computerhistory.org/atchm/creating-magic-a-conversation-with-original-iphone-engineers-software-team-lead-scott-forstall/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ MorphyErikaErika"This Is Tim Cook's Apple, A Company Where Mini Steve Gets The Axe".Forbes.2012-10-30.https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2012/10/30/this-is-tim-cooks-apple-a-company-where-mini-steve-gets-the-axe.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Remembering the controversial iOS 7 introduction".9to5Mac.2025-05-30.https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/30/remembering-the-controversial-ios-7-introduction/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "The Amazing iOS 6 Maps".Tumblr.http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Apple's Tim Cook shows ruthless streak".The Guardian.2012-10-30.https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/30/apple-tim-cook-ruthless-streak.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Major Changes at Apple: Scott Forstall Leaving, Jony Ive to Lead Human Interface Across Company".MacStories.2012-10-29.https://www.macstories.net/news/major-changes-at-apple-scott-forstall-leaving-jony-ive-to-lead-human-interface-across-company/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Why Scott Forstall Is Out".Business Insider.2012-10.http://www.businessinsider.com/why-scott-forstall-is-out-2012-10.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Apple executive drama: Scott Forstall, Jonathan Ive could barely be in meetings together".BGR.2012-11-03.http://bgr.com/2012/11/03/apple-executive-drama-scott-forstall-jonathan-ive-meetings/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "A tale of two execs: Microsoft's Sinofsky and Apple's Forstall".CNET.2012-11.http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57544571-37/a-tale-of-two-execs-microsofts-sinofsky-and-apples-forstall/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Apple Fires Maps Chief".The Wall Street Journal.2012-11.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204840504578089102411834238?mod=WSJ_hpsMIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Ex-Employee: Why Firing Scott Forstall Was a Mistake".Business Insider.2012-11.http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-employee-why-firing-scott-forstall-was-a-mistake-2012-11.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Apple exec Scott Forstall sells 95% of company shares worth $38.7M".AppleInsider.2012-05-02.http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/05/02/apple_exec_scott_forstall_sells_95_of_company_shares_worth_387m.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "What Former iOS Leader Scott Forstall Is Doing".Business Insider.2013-12.http://www.businessinsider.com/what-former-ios-leader-scott-forstall-is-doing-2013-12.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Snapchat and Scott Forstall".BGR.2015-04-17.http://bgr.com/2015/04/17/snapchat-scott-forstall-ios/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Today in Apple history: Apple fires Scott Forstall after Apple Maps' awful launch".Cult of Mac.2025-10-29.https://www.cultofmac.com/apple-history/scott-forstall-fired-by-apple.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Apple fired Scott Forstall 13 years ago today after Apple Maps disaster".The Mac Observer.2025-10-30.https://www.macobserver.com/news/apple-fired-scott-forstall-13-years-ago-today-after-apple-maps-disaster/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Tim Cook is a Great CEO".Stratechery.2013-06-11.https://stratechery.com/2013/tim-cook-is-a-great-ceo/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Steve Jobs never meant for Tim Cook to still be Apple's CEO in 2025".MacDailyNews.2025-07-09.https://macdailynews.com/2025/07/09/steve-jobs-never-meant-for-tim-cook-to-still-be-apples-ceo-in-2025/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Maybe a design blow-up is just what Apple needed".9to5Mac.2025-12-04.https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/04/stephen-lemay-can-help-rebuild-apple-design-culture/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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