I'm going to sound like a total dick, but I'm kinda not liking how this all played down. Anand should have stated in his retirement letter he was 'retiring' to join Apple. I wish Anand the best but I really hoped he would move on without saying he's "retiring"; he's not, he's now working with a vendor he once reviewed products for.
P.S. Anand is getting paid way past 100k. The reason he took the job is simple: Apple has nowhere to go but up at the moment, it's practical experience in a very lucrative industry, and I'd bet it's a bit calming to know this entire site doesn't need to be micromanaged weekly. Anand can now focus work/energy on specific tasks while getting paid above 130k. I'm glad he's (most likely) getting paid more because he deserved it
Everyone posting nonsense like this has never worked in the valley and/or technology. Someone like Anand would not have to "angle" themselves into a job at Apple - give me a break. He could easily have gotten a job at Google, Facebook, Samsung, etc. Anand is at least as accomplished as many of the folks I know at these companies.
No he could not have gotten a job at google, facebook, or samsung. Not at the rate Apple is paying him. None of those companies utilize his skills; maybe Samsung, but they wouldn't pay him nearly as much as Apple. Apple has so much cash right now that they are recruiting for EVERY position at breakneck speeds (you'd know this if you worked in the valley). I'd be working there too if I didn't like the feeling of being a small fish in a massive company.