Former Sonos CEO Patrick Spence and the new iOS app. | Image credits — Sonos
In a surprising turn of events, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence resigned from his position after a difficult period for the company. This follows the release of a new iOS app that sparked widespread criticism and frustration from users. Spence, who had been at Sonos for eight years and took on the CEO role in 2017, has overseen a period of growth for the company, but his tenure will ultimately be marked by this recent app debacle. To understand the significance of this event, it is important to remember that Sonos has long been a leader in the home audio space. Their products are known for their high quality, stylish design, and user-friendly interface. However, the launch of their new iOS app in May 2024 marked a significant change from this reputation.
The app, intended to streamline the user experience and provide a central platform for controlling all Sonos devices, has quickly become a source of frustration for many users. They reported a range of issues, including instability, missing features in previous versions, and difficulty connecting to their devices. Essentially, the app that was supposed to make things easier ended up making them a lot harder.
Redesign of the Sonos iOS application. | Image credit — Sonos
Initially, Sonos seemed to downplay the issues, suggesting they were minor and would be easily fixed with updates. But as complaints continued to pour in and subsequent updates failed to fix the core issues, the company was forced to recognize the seriousness of the situation. Spence himself issued a public apology, assuring customers that fixing the app was their top priority.
However, despite these assurances and numerous attempts to update the application, the problems persisted. Some users even asked Sonos to just go back to the old app, but Spence explained that this was not feasible due to significant changes to the company’s underlying systems.
This whole episode has subjected Sonos to intense scrutiny, tarnishing its reputation for user-friendly products. While the company has continued to release new hardware, some product launches have reportedly been delayed due to the current application situation. It appears the company’s focus on fixing the app may have diverted resources from other areas.
Now, with Spence’s departure and board member Tom Conrad appointed as interim CEO, Sonos is clearly looking to move forward and regain its footing. It remains to be seen how the company will resolve the app’s lingering issues and restore its image in the eyes of consumers.
