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According to the New York Times Apple Inc has formally ended a consulting deal with former design chief Jony Ive today. Citing sources, the newspaper reported that Ive's contract had come up for renewal and the parties agreed not to extend it. 

The New York Times: “In recent weeks, with the contract coming up for renewal, the parties agreed not to extend it. Some Apple executives had questioned how much the company was paying Mr. Ive and had grown frustrated after several of its designers left to join Mr. Ive’s firm. And Mr. Ive wanted the freedom to take on clients without needing Apple’s clearance, these people said.”

Moving forward, Apple COO Jeff Williams will continue to manage Apple’s design teams, though the product marketing team has “assumed a central role in product choices,” The New York Times says.

Since Steve Jobs passing, Ive’s relationship with Apple and it’s new CEO Tim Cook began to wane. So today’s news isn’t a surprising revelation for most.