Apple UK chief Jon Molyneux is to quit the company to join Internet-based products and services directory service Scoot.com as its MD. Molyneux joined Apple in 1986 as a sales rep after a four-year stint with Acorn, a relationship that helped him form the company's education-oriented joint venture with Acorn, Xemplar. Apple took full control of Xemplar earlier this year. Close colleagues recall Molyneux's early days at Apple, most particularly his numerous afternoon absences from Apple's telesales operation as he nipped out to present the early evening drive-time show on an Essex radio station. In 1996, Molyneux was appointed Apple UK MD following a shake-up in the company set in motion by then new CEO Gil Amelio. At that time the company was Apple's third-largest European subsidiary -- currently, it's number one. Not that is has been all plain sailing. Molyneux led the UK wing's disastrous 1997 New Apple campaign, launched in the wake of the Labour party's election winning New Labour campaign. New Apple was quickly canned in favour of the US-led Think Different ad run. Molyneux's will take his place at Scoot on 1 June, allowing him plenty of time to select his successor (at press time, the company had yet to state its plans for replacing Molyneux). Scoot, best know for its ridiculous purple-faced mascot, styles itself as a new media Yellow Pages, and is backed financially by Dutch publishing combine and CMP suitor VNU Business Publications. ®