Jonathan Ive, Apple’s legendary chief design officer has announced he is leaving the company. Media reports say his departure was long in the making and that his new, independent design firm will count Apple as a client. The British designer has been pivotal in the creation of such products as the Mac, the iPod, and the iPhone that have changed Apple’s and our lives. His departure — and Apple CEO Tim Cook’s challenge in replacing him — offer an opportunity to reflect on how executives should go about the difficult job of choosing the right creative talent for their own organizations.