Cagni is said to have resigned on Wednesday, although Apple has not yet confirmed the departure. Nor has Cagni revealed what his plans are post Apple.

Pascal oversees the EMIA region that includes 122 countries, which account for 33% of Apple's worldwide revenue, according to his biog on the website. The site claims Cagni "has grown revenue in EMEA from 1 billion to more than 19 billion dollars" and that "Apple EMEIA has for several years been the fastest growing region within Apple Worldwide."

Prior to Apple, Cagni worked for NEC/Packard Bell Europe. Regarding his work there, the IESE notes: "Pascal's energetic management and operations talent".

Our own dealings with Cagni suggest that he and Steve Jobs have similar temperaments and we would theorise that the two had much in common.

The IESE also reveals: "Pascal discovered within the computer market a stimulating challenge, and a real passion that has driven him for nearly twenty years."