Apple Thoughts: Google CEO Schmidt Leaves Apple's Board

"Google CEO Eric Schmidt has resigned from Apple's board of directors, Apple announced Monday."

In a statement from Steve Jobs via Apple "Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board.”

There were many complaints about conflict of interest in the relationship, especially from shareholders, but the FTC probe had to throw some kinks into it as well. I guess this takes some of the blurriness from their relationship.