Mobile Development Chief Jon Rubinstein Leaves HP

Jon Rubinstein, who helped quarterback the launch of Apple’s iPod, and was once the CEO of now defunct Palm, has left Hewlett Packard after spending two years with the company.

In an interview with technology blog The Verge, Mr. Rubinstein said he was “going to take some well-deserved time off after four and a half years developing webOS.”

Mr. Rubinstein joined HP when it acquired Palm in 2010, and promised to make the company a mobile player to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, HP’s mobile dominance never materialized and former CEO Leo Apotheker cancelled the TouchPad project after six weeks.

HP further demonstrated its lack of interest in webOS by announcing in the last weeks of 2011 it intended to make the platform open source, removing the last of the company’s resources and commitment from it.

When asked for comment on Mr. Rubinstein’s departure, a company spokesperson replied “Jon has fulfilled his commitment to HP.”