Michael Spindler

Michael Spindler (December 22, 1942 – September 5, 2016 and worked at DEC and Intel, before he moved to join Apple Computer. Having joined Apple in 1980 after Mike Markkula brought him over to help out with marketing at Apple's European office, he rose through the ranks in Apple's European operations as President of Apple Europe, then President of Apple International. Michael Spindler had built a reputation as a great strategist in business tactics. One of his most successful strategies that soared Apple's global sales included giving Apple's various territories more autonomy over their marketing strategies. One of his first moves as CEO included massive cost-cutting measures such as laying off workers, ending costly projects and cutting down on R&D projects, freezing executive salaries.

After Apple, Spindler worked at Upstart Capital, Daimler-Benz, and Bertelsmann. He also "served as a trustee for the American Film Institute."

Personal life From 1985 until his death in 2016, Spindler lived between Paris, France, and San Francisco, California, United States, with his wife Maryse and three kids Karen, Laurie, and John.

Death Spindler died after a short illness on September 5, 2016. His long-time friend and business partner Jean-Louis Gassée stated, "Mike was an original, highly cultured mind, with high-level geopolitical views of our industry."