Apple said to have plucked Levis executive to run US retail

While Apple continues to look for a new head of retail, it has reportedly filled one of the top spots in its US operations, where most of its retail stores and sales originate.

The iPhone and Mac maker recently hired Enrique Atienza from Levi Strauss to serve as director of US retail, reports 9to5Mac. Atienza had been at Levis for nearly four years, and spent just shy of a decade working for The Walt Disney company and The Disney Store, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Atienza's most recent role at Levi Strauss was as the senior vice president of retail in the Americas, as well as the "global store operations and training COE."

Apple declined to comment on the hire, which comes as the company continues to search for a new chief of its retail operations. That spot's been vacant since last Octoberwhen the company got rid of John Browett, an executive it had hired from UK electronics retail chain Dixons just six months prior.

According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, Apple's hunt for a replacement for Browett has been slow going. Citing sources, the report said Apple had interviewed "several" candidates from outside the company, and was not considering anyone internal for the role, which had been run by former Target exec Ron Johnson for more than a decade.

Apple currently has 412 stores worldwide, and more than half of those are in the US. Together, with the international locations, Apple's stores brought in $4.1 billion in revenue in Apple's June quarter, fueled mainly by strong sales of the iPhone.

Updated at 3:15 p.m. PT with a no comment from Apple.