Apple Hires Former Microsoft Exec Sam Jadallah to Lead its Smart Home Initiatives

In its continued effort to catch up to Google and Amazon in terms of its smart home business, Apple has hired former Microsoft executive Sam Jadallah. Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNBC is reporting that Jadallah will be leading the smart home initiatives at Apple.

Jadallah, who updated his LinkedIn profile over the weekend to reflect his new role with Apple, is the former CEO of a smart lock company named Otto, that shut down just over a year ago. The company made a $700 lock but suspended its operations four months after its luxury product launch. He has also spent more than a decade at Microsoft:

“About 70 percent of the early team behind Otto was actually poached from Apple’s ranks, Jadallah has previously said. The lock was compared favorably by reviewers to the “Apple of smart locks.” It’s not clear whether Jadallah will bring these early employees with him, or will have a fresh mandate to hire. There are currently about half-a-dozen job openings in Apple’s home division.”

Apple has also recently acquired a start-up called PullString, that specializes in voice-enabled toys. Experts believe that purchase could help the iPhone maker become the center of a connected living room.

Both Apple and Jadallah has declined to comment on the hire.