X

Former Apple Maps lead finds home at Facebook

The social network has hired Richard Williamson, a former Apple director with extensive experience building for the iOS platform.

Jennifer Van Grove Former Senior Writer / News
Jennifer Van Grove covered the social beat for CNET. She loves Boo the dog, CrossFit, and eating vegan. Her jokes are often in poor taste, but her articles are not.
Jennifer Van Grove
Facebook Home
Josh Miller/CNET
Richard Wiliamson, who led the Apple Maps initiative, is now providing direction for Facebook's mobile projects, according to Bloomberg.

The rebuffed lead behind Apple Maps landed at the social network sometime in the past few weeks and is a manager within the company's mobile ranks, two people with knowledge of the hire told Bloomberg.

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Williamson, previously the senior director of iOS platform services at Apple, was reportedly fired late last year from the company where he had worked for more than 10 years. The ousting came a few months after the Cupertino, Calif., company shipped a subpar Maps application that disappointed, and often misdirected, consumers. The debacle, which compelled Apple CEO Tim Cook to issue a public apology, also was linked to the forced exit of iOS software chief Scott Forstall.

At least six former Apple software and hardware engineers have moved to Facebook, according to previous reports, likely to help the company develop Home for Android -- and possibly even iOS.

Update, Wednesday, 8:35 a.m. PT: Williamson updated his LinkedIn profile with the position Director of Engineering at Facebook.