Google chief quits Apple board

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is resigning from Apple’s board amid intensifying rivalry between the two companies and concern that sharing directors may hurt competition.

Mr Schmidt’s effectiveness as a director was being “significantly diminished” as he needed to recuse himself from more meetings because of potential conflicts of interest, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said.

The decision was mutual, he added. Google has expanded into computer and mobile-phone software, creating direct competitors to Apple’s products.