Angela Ahrendts, the former CEO of Burberry, will take over as Apple's new SVP of retail next week, the company announced during an earnings call on Wednesday.
Apple first announced hiring Ahrendts to fill the role more than seven months ago. At the time, the company said she would join in the spring of 2014, though recent reports raised questions about whether her exit would be delayed to collect an additional bonus from Burberry.
Ahrendts is credited with reviving Burberry's brand and rethinking the shopping experience online and offline, making the latter more technologically advanced as well.
Apple has struggled to fill the retail chief position ever since Ron Johnson, the man credited with building up Apple's retail presence, departed the company in 2011 to take over JC Penney. The company hired former Dixons CEO John Browett for the role in early 2012, but he left (or was pushed out) of the company just nine months later. The role has been vacant ever since.
The Burberry exec takes over Apple at a key time. Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed during the earnings call that Apple plans to triple the number of retail stores over the next two years.