Steve Jobs Resigns From Post as Apple's CEO
Founding father of Apple Steve Jobs is no longer the CEO of his company.
In shocking announcement from Cupertino this afternoon, Apple has announced that founder Steve Jobs will no longer act as the company's CEO. In a letter sent to the Apple board today, Mr. Jobs admitted that the time has come where he can no longer fulfill his duties as Chief Executive Officer of Apple. Jobs went on to "strongly recommend" Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook be his replacement and said he would like to stay on as Chairman if the company's board sees fit.
I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.
Steve
Apple has since confirmed the news with a press release announcing Tim Cook as Steve's replacement and revealing that the board has named Jobs Chairman. New CEO Cook will also be joining the board.
Steve Jobs has been on medical leave from Apple since January 2011. Neither Jobs nor Apple have explained the reason behind the extended leave, except to say that Steve was leaving to "focus on his health." The Apple founder took a leave of absence in January 2009 and it later emerged that he had undergone a liver transplant in the spring of 2009. Jobs was also treated for pancreatic cancer in 2004. He is said to have attempted to treat the islet cell neuroendocrine tumor with a special diet before agreeing to have surgery to remove the tumor. The surgery was successful and Jobs did not require chemotherapy or radiation.
Tim Cook has acted as CEO during all of Jobs' absences. According to Apple, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company's worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple's supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple's Macintosh division.
Given Steve Jobs prominent role in the day-to-day operations at Apple, the company's stock routinely suffers when news, or even rumors, regarding his health do the rounds. It's often said that Apple would suffer significantly if Steve Jobs were to leave the company. To that end, his health, and indeed his medical leave from Apple, frequently leads to debates about whether or not shareholders deserve to know personal details about Steve Jobs' health. Today's news comes at a time when Apple is rumored to be on the verge of announcing a new iPhone (and possibly a new iPad, too). Both events will likely have an impact on Apple shares.
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Wooow, thats a major surprise. I cant imagine that much changing but wow. Go PC's i guess?
Not really sure what to think.
Well, I wish the best of health for Mr. Jobbs.
However, I don't see him as the kind of leader that would put a strong successor for his post as CEO in his place, perhaps in part do to his ego, but certainly in part because of his overbearing nature that he is reported to have within the company (based on a number of case studies I have read). Unless the board of directors makes a strong decision for his successor, not some puppet, but a real strong leader... Apple will collapse with an unclear vision of how to proceed.
Speculation is that he is terminal with cancer. I'm not an Apple fan, but I've bought numerous apple products as gifts over the years. They have always brought a smile to the recipients face.
I hope the speculation is false. Regardless of my personal opinion of Apple, I can't deny the overwhelming impact he has had on the tech sector. For good or bad, he is a force that will be missed.
And the Apple bashers will come in 3....2....1!
I hope he'll still give keynotes.
I bet apple stock drops 30% tomorrow.
No WAY!! A friend of mine, who is an Apple fanboy, and I were talking about one day when Jobs steps down due to health reasons earlier today. What a freakish coincidence.
Wow! Didn't see that coming.
Hope Apple doesn't sue him for leaving.
I bet apple stock drops 30% tomorrow.
They've already lost 6.6% or something like that.
buddy fawk thats hectic!
Shocking and right before the Iphone 5 release pending...
time to sell that apple stock, its already goin down lol
I hope the guys is okay, never wish anyone else harm. However as for the company... it's finally the beginning of the end. Thankfully. I hope it makes all of the wrong moves and finally the fad ends and everyone accepts open platforms instead. What they represent is a step back in evolution to the technical equivalent of slavery.
I hope for his health and happiness, but I hope Apple eats some for there actions towards all other major competitors in the phone market especially.
He's running the company wrong!
To hell with Apple... But I do wish Steve Jobs the best.
I know he has bad health, but since Apple has like more money than the US government, Jobs must have a nice retirement check? Or how that works? I got 60 years until I retire
YAY!
It doesn't matter if he is the CEO, chairman, or just a simple employee. What matters is he always be Steve Jobs and we all love him.
All the best Steve.
O HAPPY DAYS!
Now we can see what Apple can REALLY do.
It will be nice not to see his face in the news as frequently.
as much as i don't like apple, i must give credit where credit is due and steve jobs has done a fantastic job. he will be missed.
if he is ill... an apple a day keeps the doctor away!
and thus begins the decline of Apple....
Wish him and his family the best. However, this highlights the problem with having a company that focuses on a charismatic leader and places everything on this leader's shoulders, and not having a strong leadership team to fill the void left when that leader departs. Investors won't be happy and the future of a great company becomes less clear.
Annnnd, the parties over.
iResign
=D
Well, I haven't been a fan of Apple but it is different with Jobs for what he has done; your services to the tech industry have been invaluable and you've really had a profound impact in the arena sir. I wish you best of luck, specially for you health.
I wish him happy retirement days ( as many as he has left), although I know that is very hard for people with his type of personality. He probably has the Board by the ba11$.
Bad day for Apple, but good day for technology. They have attempted the equivalent of a "1984" experiment in tech world, and sadly they have succeeded with a lot of people. Closed systems are never a good thing on the long run. In that respect, good riddance.
Yay! I mean, not wishing harm on him personally, but good for the rest of us. Hopefully Apple will either stop sucking so bad, or undergo a shocking collapse into irrelevance. Neither one can happen soon enough.
Sad for Steve jobs physical problems. Great for pc's in all though happy about that. I wonder how this will affect the adobe/apple relationship in years to come.