Phil Schiller

Phil Schiller
Born	Philip W. Schiller 8 6, 1960
Birthplace	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Apple Fellow
Employer	Apple Inc.
Known for	Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Apple (1997–2020); Apple Fellow (2020–present)
Education	Boston College (B.S., 1982)
Spouse(s)	Kim Gassett-Schiller
Awards	Apple Fellow (2020)
Website	[https://www.apple.com/leadership/phil-schiller/ Official site]

Philip W. Schiller (born June 8, 1960) is an American business executive and Apple Fellow at Apple Inc., where he has served on the executive team for more than three decades. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Schiller became one of the most recognizable figures in the technology industry through his frequent appearances at Apple's keynote presentations, where he introduced and demonstrated many of the company's flagship products alongside co-founder Steve Jobs and later CEO Tim Cook. Schiller served as Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing from 1997 until August 2020, when he transitioned to the role of Apple Fellow — becoming the first person in over twenty years to receive the designation, one of the company's highest-ranking honors previously bestowed on co-founder Steve Wozniak and a small number of other individuals. As Apple Fellow, Schiller leads the App Store and Apple Events. Beyond his work at Apple, Schiller has served on the board of directors of Illumina, a DNA sequencing company, since 2016, and has been involved in significant philanthropic endeavors alongside his wife, Kim Gassett-Schiller.

Early Life

Philip W. Schiller was born on June 8, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in the New England area and developed an early interest in technology and computing. As a young person, Schiller worked at the New England Aquarium, an institution with which he would maintain a lifelong connection. His Boston roots and early experiences in the city would later inform his philanthropic interests, particularly regarding ocean conservation and the institutions of his hometown.

Education

Schiller attended Boston College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He has maintained ties with the university throughout his career, later becoming a donor to the institution's athletics programs.

Career

Early Career and Arrival at Apple

Schiller's career in the technology industry spanned several companies before he joined Apple. He worked in product marketing and management roles at various technology firms during the 1980s and early 1990s, a period of rapid expansion in the personal computing industry. His experience in marketing technology products would prove instrumental in shaping his later work at Apple.

Schiller joined Apple and became a key member of the executive team when Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1997. Jobs's return marked a pivotal transformation of Apple from a struggling computer maker into one of the world's most valuable companies, and Schiller was central to that transformation in his role overseeing the company's marketing efforts.

Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing

As Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Schiller held one of the most prominent marketing positions in the technology industry. According to Ad Age, he was among the highest-paid chief marketing officers in the world. In this role, Schiller oversaw the marketing strategy for Apple's entire product lineup, including the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and numerous other hardware and software products.

Schiller became one of the most visible members of Apple's leadership through his regular appearances at the company's keynote presentations. These presentations, which became major events in the technology industry, served as the primary vehicle through which Apple announced new products and software updates to the public and press. Schiller frequently took the stage to demonstrate new features and products, delivering presentations that were characterized by polished production values and careful attention to messaging.

His role at Apple extended beyond traditional marketing functions. Schiller was involved in product strategy and positioning, helping to shape how Apple's products were conceived, developed, and brought to market. He helped guide Apple's products and marketing for more than 30 years, according to the company's own description of his tenure.

Keynote Presentations and Public Role

Schiller's appearances at Apple keynote events became a defining aspect of his public profile. He was a regular presenter at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company's annual developer conference, as well as at special product launch events throughout the year. In June 2009, during a period when Steve Jobs was on medical leave, Schiller played a particularly prominent role at WWDC, helping to carry the event in Jobs's absence.

Over the years, Schiller introduced and demonstrated a wide range of Apple products on stage. His presentation style was noted for its clarity and enthusiasm for the technical details of the products he was presenting. He became closely associated with the company's product launches in the eyes of consumers, press, and the broader technology industry.

Schiller also served as a spokesperson for Apple in media interviews and public statements on various topics. In one notable instance, he addressed the naming convention of the iPhone XR, confirming that the letter "R" in the product name did not carry a specific meaning.

Transition to Apple Fellow

On August 4, 2020, Apple announced that Schiller would transition from his role as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing to the newly appointed position of Apple Fellow. The appointment made Schiller the first person in more than 20 years to receive the Apple Fellow designation, one of the company's most distinguished honors. The title of Apple Fellow had previously been bestowed on only a small number of individuals, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

In announcing the transition, Apple stated that Schiller would continue to lead the App Store and Apple Events in his new role. Greg Joswiak, who had worked under Schiller, succeeded him as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and joined the company's executive team.

The role of Apple Fellow allowed Schiller to maintain significant influence within the company while stepping back from the day-to-day responsibilities of running the worldwide marketing organization. His continued oversight of the App Store — a major revenue driver and strategic asset for Apple — underscored the importance of the position. His leadership of Apple Events also meant that he retained responsibility for the company's keynote presentations and product launch events, activities that had long been central to his public role at the company.

Apple's History and Culture

Schiller's long tenure at Apple placed him among a small group of executives who witnessed and shaped the company's transformation from the late 1990s through its ascent to become one of the world's most valuable corporations. In interviews and retrospectives about Apple's history, including an oral history of the company's Infinite Loop campus published by Wired, Schiller has provided perspectives on the company's culture, decision-making processes, and product development philosophy.

Board Membership at Illumina

In July 2016, Schiller was named to the board of directors of Illumina, a San Diego-based company that develops and manufactures systems for genetic analysis and DNA sequencing. The appointment reflected Schiller's interest in technology beyond consumer electronics and his broader engagement with innovation in the life sciences sector. Illumina is a leader in the genomics industry, and Schiller's marketing and technology expertise was seen as a valuable addition to the company's board.

Interest in Automotive Design and Innovation

In a 2025 interview with Lamborghini, Schiller discussed topics related to technology, computing, and innovation, drawing connections between the automotive and technology industries. The interview, part of Lamborghini's "Countach Legacy" series, explored Schiller's views on innovation driven by a desire for change.

Personal Life

Schiller is married to Kim Gassett-Schiller. The couple have been involved in philanthropic activities together, particularly in the areas of ocean conservation and education.

Schiller has maintained a connection to the New England Aquarium throughout his life, having worked there earlier in his career. In October 2025, Phil and Kim Gassett-Schiller made a $9 million donation to the New England Aquarium — described as the largest private philanthropic donation in the institution's history — to expand its ocean advising work and support ocean preservation and blue economy initiatives.

In May 2025, the Schillers donated $2.5 million to Boston College Athletics to endow the head coaching position for the women's lacrosse program. The gift was announced by the university, which identified Schiller as a member of the class of 1982.

Recognition

Apple Fellow Designation

Schiller's appointment as Apple Fellow in August 2020 represented one of the most significant recognitions of his career. The Apple Fellow title is one of the company's highest-ranking positions, reserved for individuals who have made extraordinary technical or leadership contributions to the company. Prior to Schiller's appointment, no one had been named an Apple Fellow in more than two decades. The honor placed Schiller alongside a select group that includes Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Industry Recognition

Schiller's role as Apple's chief marketing executive brought him recognition as one of the most influential marketing leaders in the technology industry. Ad Age identified him as among the highest-paid chief marketing officers globally, reflecting the scale and impact of Apple's marketing operations under his leadership.

His contributions to Apple were also recognized through his regular inclusion in discussions and retrospectives about the company's history and its impact on the technology industry. As a longtime member of Apple's executive team, Schiller has been profiled and discussed extensively in technology media.

Legacy

Phil Schiller's career at Apple spans one of the most transformative periods in the history of the technology industry. Joining the company's executive team upon Steve Jobs's return in 1997, Schiller helped shape the marketing and product positioning for a product lineup that redefined consumer electronics — from the original iMac through the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and beyond. His more than 30 years of involvement with the company's products and marketing have made him one of the longest-serving and most influential members of Apple's leadership.

As Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Schiller played a central role in establishing Apple's approach to product launches and public communications. The company's keynote presentations, in which Schiller was a frequent and prominent participant, became widely anticipated events that set the standard for technology product announcements across the industry.

His transition to Apple Fellow in 2020, and his continued leadership of the App Store and Apple Events, ensured his ongoing influence on two of the company's most strategically important functions. The App Store, in particular, has become a central component of Apple's business model and a platform that supports millions of developers worldwide.

Beyond Apple, Schiller's service on the board of Illumina demonstrated his engagement with technological innovation in fields beyond consumer electronics. His philanthropic work with his wife, Kim Gassett-Schiller — including the historic $9 million donation to the New England Aquarium and the $2.5 million gift to Boston College — reflects a commitment to the institutions and causes connected to his personal history and community.