Secret Apple runs with iWatch fitness expert

Apple has recruited Nike fitness consultant Jay Blahnik to a secret iWatch team, as plans for the wearable device become clearer.

Recognised as one of the premier fitness instructors in the industry, Blahnik has been a Nike Elite Athlete and Nike consultant for almost 20 years.

Including work on Nike's Fuel Band, 9to5Mac reports that Blahnik's portfolio and alleged appointment suggests the tech giant will dive head first into the fitness aspects of the device.

CEO Tim Cook, also a Nike director, is known to be a fan of Blahnik's work, praising the fitness-focused wearable Fuel Band at the AllThingsD conference earlier this year.

"I think Nike did a really great job with this," he said. "The [wearables] that do more than one thing… aren't great."

Claiming to have uncovered the secret iWatch team assembled by Apple, 9to5Mac also reports that the product will target the wrist area of the body - unsurprising given the iWatch name.

"Apple has begun assembling a team of hardware and software engineering, medical sensor, manufacturing, and fitness experts, indicating the company is moving forward with a project to build a fitness-oriented, sensor-laden wearable computer, according to our sources," 9to5 Mac reports.

"Over the past half-decade-or-so, Apple has experimented with and shelved numerous wearable computer designs.

"Internal prototypes have included designs that could clip onto different pieces of clothing (like an iPod shuffle/nano) in addition to devices that could wrap around a wrist."

Other notable figures within the team is senior vice president of technologies Bob Mansfield, former Adobe executive Kevin Lynch and James Foster.

After taking a job with the company in March this year, Lynch is rumoured to be working on the software aspect of the product, with Foster handling the hardware side.

Offering a full breakdown of each team member's history and position within the company, the group also includes specialists in sensor technologies.

News of Apple's secret team follows widespread comment that the company has launched a full-scale hiring spree, in a bid to attract the best talent in town to work on the project.

Not forgetting the hiring of Yves St Laurent executive Paul Deneve last month, it would seem the Cook is assembling staff capable of bringing the company's visions to life.

What do you make of Apple's iWatch appointments? Are they a surprise or expected?