We all know Jon Rubinstein once worked at Apple and was largely responsible for the iPod’s initial success. We also know that part of Apple’s brilliance is in marketing. Now Jon Rubinstein the CEO of Palm and his first efforts as CEO to change the image of Palm are rather dramatic: he has terminated the Senior Vice President of Marketing (Brodie C. Keast) and created 2 new executive marketing positions that will report directly to him.

(Image via EclecticElectronics.net)

This move was detailed in an SEC filing that was also found on Palm’s investor website:

Following his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of Palm, Inc. (“Palm” or the “Company”), effective June 12, 2009, Jon Rubinstein has reorganized the Company’s marketing organization to bring more focus to both product marketing and corporate branding, creating two new executive marketing roles that will report directly to him. Kathleen C. Mitic has accepted the product marketing role and, on Monday, June 29, 2009, joined Palm as its Senior Vice President, Product Marketing. In connection with this reorganization, the employment of Brodie C. Keast, the Company’s current Senior Vice President, Marketing, will terminate on or about July 15, 2009, following an appropriate transition period.

So Brodie Keast is out, Katherine C. Mitic is in and one more position remains to be filled. Mitic has assumed the role of product marketing so I assume the corporate branding position will be named in the near future.

I think Rubinstein will suit Palm well… but while his experience with Apple seemed more organic, I hope he doesn’t get TOO trigger happy at Palm being the CEO. Hopefully this move will prove effective – I’m not familiar with Keast or Mitic so I suppose time will tell.