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iPod creator from Lebanese origins

While Steve Jobs has been taking most of the spotlight when it comes to creative ideas within Apple, the iPod creator, Anthony M. Fadell, is actually the real engineering genius behind the iPod. And where is Fadell originally from? Lebanon.
So, you probably didn’t know that the iPod creator was of Lebanese origin. But who is Tony Fadell?

Tony Fadell was born to Lebanese parents in 1969. After graduating from Michigan University in 1991 with a BS in Computer Engineering, Tony Fadell had a fast growing engineering career moving from a Hardware & Software architect in General Magic, to being the co-founder and CTO position of the mobile Computing group at Philips Electronics. Mr. Fadell later became Vice President of Business Development for Philips U.S. Strategy & Ventures, focusing on building the company’s digital media strategy and investment portfolio.
In the nineties, Fadell started his own company called “Fuse” to develop one of the devices he had in mind: a small hard disk-based music player. However, “Fuse” failed because Fadell did not find a second round of funding. Therefore, he presented his ideas to other companies. He first went to RealNetworks in 2000, but left after only six weeks. Then he got in touch with Apple.
Tony Fadell then joined Apple Company in 2001 as a contractor designing the iPod and planning Apple’s audio product strategy. He assembled and ran its iPod & Special Projects group in which he was overseeing the design and production of the iPod and iSight devices. He quickly moved to be the Senior Director of the Company’s iPod Engineering Team and in 2004, he was promoted to vice president of iPod engineering. In March 2006, Fadell became Senior Vice President of the iPod Division at Apple.
Fadell was also part of the executive team involved in the development of the iPhone, which has become the fastest-growing part of Apple’s business.
So while Fadell has not been getting as much spotlight as Steve Jobs, he is however increasing the list of Lebanese people who raised our flag in terms of business or cultural innovation.
More can be found on Tony Fadell within “The 50 Who Matter Now” CNN listing, ranked as No 27.
According to a recent company release, Fadell and his wife Danielle Lambert, a VP of human resources, “are reducing their roles within the company as they devote more time to their young family. Fadell will remain at Apple as an advisor to the CEO. Lambert will depart the company at the end of this year after a successor is in place.”

(original post by Mohamad Ali Mahfouz in Cedar Times)