Apple boss Tim Cook has attacked a report that claimed to shed light on the process that led to the departure of Jony Ive, the design chief and creator of the iPhone, iMac and more.
A long report in the Wall Street Journal suggested that Sir Jony had become "dispirited" by Mr Cook's approach to the company. It suggested that he was focused more on operations and sales than the design and innovation of new products.
That rift continued until the designer revealed in a shock announcement that he would quit the company and create his own design firm.
The same report claimed to reveal a host of details about the souring relationship between Mr Cook and Sir Jony, including suggestions the British designer had stopped turned up to meetings, disagreed with other leaders of Apple, and was having his central ideas stifled.
But Mr Cook has since spoken out against the report, calling it "absurd" and that "the conclusions just don't match with reality".
"At a base level, it shows a lack of understanding about how the design team works and how Apple works," the chief executive told NBC News.
"It distorts relationships, decisions and events to the point that we just don't recognise the company it claims to describe."
Over the weekend, Sir Jony announced that he is leaving Apple to start his own design firm, but will continue to work with the iPhone maker as one of its clients.
Sir Jonathan was knighted in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2012.
The 52-year-old studied design at Newcastle Polytechnic - now Northumbria University - and founded his own design company called Tangerine before being recruited by Apple.
He will not be immediately replaced and two of his deputies will report directly to the company's chief operating officer, Jeff Williams.
An exact date for his departure has not been given.
Additional reporting by agencies
