The disappearance of Bob Mansfield’s biography in Apple’s executive page has gotten some serious press time.  It’s not unusual for an executive to suddenly disappear from a company – high level execs choose to retire or explore other options outside of their companies all the time.  So why the huge interest in Mansfield’s case?

“Bob is no longer going to be on Apple’s executive team, but will remain at Apple working on special projects reporting to [CEO] Tim [Cook],” company spokesman Steve Dowling told AllThingsD.

Dowling declined to expound on the situation or divulge information about the sudden change or where exactly in Apple Mansfield will be placed next.

In June 2012, Mansfield announced his retirement from the company.  At the time, he was already regarded as a long time Apple executive, to the point where it seemed the company wouldn’t be able to go on without him.  But Mansfield’s retirement proved to be short lived, and just a few months later he arrived back on the scene in the new role of Senior Vice President of Technologies, a group that combines all of Apple’s wireless teams across the company in one organization, allowing it to innovate in this area at an even higher level. Aside from a new role, Mansfield was also given cash and stock package worth about $2 million a month.

It’s highly unusual for a company to offer huge packages as well as a top level position, only for that person to be set aside so soon.  This is what makes Mansfield’s disappearance from the exec page even more unusual.  And what does it mean for Mansfield if he is no longer considered as an Apple exec?

It remains to be seen whether it was Mansfield’s decision to abandon his position or if it was in fact Apple’s decision, or if both parties ‘agreed’ upon this sudden change.