From my understanding, it's effectively impossible for Apple employees to have any apps listed in the App Store through personal accounts. Which, no doubt, accounts for a lot of the reason why the Xcode -> iTunes Connect -> App Store experience is so miserable.
I have specific knowledge of several instances where this is, indeed, true.
Your article:
Is five years old, and never claims about that the person mentioned in article was still developing apps after being hired by Apple. In fact:
The picture displayed is from a now-defunct Seattle-centric business social networking website, and Phillip is mentioned as being part of the "Seattle Community," but a resident of "San Jose California."
It seems totally sensible that Apple would want to hire someone with experience building iOS apps, and would then make them give all of those up as soon as they're hired. Which would be identical to the experience that the people I know have had.
I did some more digging, and:
“Apple employees are generally prohibited
[from publishing apps in the App Store],”
[Evan] Doll told Wired.com. “You have to
get a special exception from a VP.
Otherwise, big no-no. If he was doing it
pre-Apple then he’d have an easier time
getting an exception,” he added.
But both of these things also apply to Google employees without special permission to 'moonlight.' And yes, it's possible to get it, and people do, but it's going to be scrutinized.
