Jul 03, 2013 01:39 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Apple has hired former Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve to work on "special projects" for the company, AppleInsider.com reported.

Deneve worked for Apple once before in Europe in the 1990's and, upon his return, will report directly to CEO Tim Cook. Apple did not reveal what the specific nature of Deneve's work would be.

"We're thrilled to welcome Paul Deneve to Apple," Apple said in a statement Tuesday. "He'll be working on special projects as a vice president reporting directly to Tim Cook."

Although the former YSL CEO's career work has been mostly in high fashion, Bloomberg Businessweek speculated that Deneve is experienced in selling top-line products at a premium price.

The move also signals a change in how the company fills its open positions. In the past, Apple has promoted from within, such as Jonathan Ive's title being updated to senior vice president of design, announced at their recent WWDC event.

Cook has shown that he is willing to go outside his company to fill open positions. Cook has also reportedly hired former Hulu executive Pete Distad to help Apple acquire content for its TV service.

Deneve is not the first member of the fashion industry to work for Apple. Mickey Drexler, chairman and CEO of J. Crew, sits on Apple's board of directors, as does Cook on Nike's.

The Cupertino, California-based company still has positions vacant for their retail chief job, open since John Browett's departure. Deneve will not be filling this position and the company has yet to announce a hire for it since the last two to fill the position left after a year each of service.

Apple Insider reported that the company is searching outside of its own staff to fill the position.

Since filing for the patent of the name "iWatch," presumably for their own smart-watch product, Apple's stock has jumped up by six percent.

Since Deneve does not have a specific job title at the moment, he could be helping Ive design the watch, or he could help Cook sell it. Either way, PC Magazine and other sources have speculated that the iWatch will be his first project.

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