Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of fitness technologies, is retiring this summer after a nearly 13-year tenure marred by accusations that he created a toxic workplace culture and sexually harassed an employee.
Mr. Blahnik, who joined Apple in 2013, helped create some of the signature fitness features on the Apple Watch. He later oversaw a subscription service, Fitness+, with video and audio workouts for cycling, meditation and yoga.
During his nearly decade-long leadership of Fitness+, Mr. Blahnik was described by current and former employees as verbally abusive, manipulative and inappropriate, The New York Times previously reported. Since 2022, more than 10 of the roughly 100 employees on his team sought extended mental health or medical leaves of absence.
Apple confirmed Mr. Blahnik’s retirement. The company declined to comment further, including on who would succeed him. Mr. Blahnik did not respond to requests for comment.
In an email to employees this week, Apple said Mr. Blahnik, 57, will retire in July “to spend time with his family and make an exciting move to New York City.”
Mr. Blahnik was a fitness star and author who had worked with Nike for two decades before he was hired to work on the Apple Watch. He was known for creating the device’s defining fitness feature: three rings that people can close daily by exercising, standing and burning calories.
But employees said Mr. Blahnik created a toxic work environment. The company settled one complaint claiming sexual harassment by Mr. Blahnik and is fighting a lawsuit by an employee, Mandana Mofidi, who said he had bullied her.
When some employees raised concerns about Mr. Blahnik’s leadership, Apple moved to protect him after an internal investigation. He remained in his role after company officials said their investigation had found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Ms. Mofidi’s lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial next year.
Apple’s Fitness Chief, Who Was Accused of Harassment, Is Retiring
