Andy Miller, head of mobile advertising for Apple (AAPL), is leaving to join VC firm Highland Capital Partners. Miller is the former co-founder and CEO of Quattro Wireless, a Highland-backed company that Apple acquired early last year for $275 million. He currently reports directly to Steve Jobs.
The news was first reported by All Things D, and confirmed by Fortune with Highland partner Peter Bell.
“We were going to do a formal announcement later this week, but Apple had an internal meeting this morning and I guess it leaked,” Bell says. “We’ve known Andy for a long time, and really wanted someone with deep experience in mobile and a great network in Silicon Valley. He has both.”
Bell currently leads Silicon Valley operations for Highland, a Boston area-based firm that is looking to make greater inroads on the West Coast. Highland currently is investing out of a $400 million fund, and its most recent investments include Zoove, Yippit and Kyruus.
UPDATE: Highland has issued a press release