PEOPLE : Spindler Tapped for No. 2 Spot at Apple Computer

Michael H. Spindler, who spent most of the last decade building Apple Computer’s international sales, has been named the new No. 2 executive at the personal computer pioneer.

The appointment of Spindler, 47, to the newly created post of chief operating officer and executive vice president comes on the heels of last Friday’s resignation of Allan Z. Loren as president of Apple U.S.A., the unit largely blamed for dragging down the Cupertino, Calif.-based company’s sales and profit in recent months.

In his new capacity, Spindler, a 10-year Apple veteran, will oversee the company’s troubled domestic sales operations as well as its international sales, worldwide product marketing and manufacturing units. He will report directly to Apple Chairman John A. Sculley.

Although four other executives report directly to Sculley, Spindler carries the most senior title, second only to the chairman. The four other executives are Joseph Graziano, chief financial officer; Jean-Louis Gasse, senior vice president and president of Apple Products; Albert A. Eisenstat, senior vice president and secretary, and Kevin J. Sullivan, senior vice president, human resources.

However, an Apple spokeswoman cautioned that it is still far too early to speculate as to whether Spindler is Sculley’s heir apparent.

Sculley, who turns 51 later this year, has not indicated any interest in stepping down from the post he has held since ousting Apple co-founder Steven P. Jobs from the chairmanship in 1985. Sculley has been with the company since 1983, when he joined as president.

Sculley said Spindler’s promotion will help Apple coordinate its worldwide operations and streamline its day-to-day activities. “Spindler brings operational strength, strategic excellence and international acumen to the new . . . position,” Sculley said. “These skills are aligned with the challenges Apple faces in the coming decade.”

Of Loren, Sculley said he “furthered Apple’s acceptance and credibility with large, institutional customers . . . (and) helped lay a foundation for even greater successes.” Loren, who had joined Apple in 1987 and was once considered a potential replacement for Sculley, has no immediate career plans, according to an Apple spokeswoman.

Until a replacement for Loren is hired, Spindler will be acting president of Apple’s domestic operations.

During the final three months of 1989, Apple suffered an 11% drop in profit from the previous year’s quarter, largely due to the slowdown in U.S. sales affecting most computer makers. As a result, Apple said two weeks ago that it will lay off an unspecified number of its 5,500 employees in the San Francisco Bay Area.