In a letter addressed to Apple’s Board of Directors and the Apple Community, Steve Jobs explained his decision to step down as CEO.
“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.”
Jobs’ comments are certainly ominous, implying that his health hasn’t improved since he stepped aside from day-to-day operations several months ago. But it’s good news that he plans to continue on as Chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors and as an employee.
Perhaps the best CEO of the last decade is through? I have to give Jobs credit he turned Apple around into the titan it is now from 1997 until now. You couldn’t have scripted the rise of Apple, no one would have believed it!
Now I think Apple is at a crossroads. Whats the next product line? Jobs will still have a significant role as Chairman, but I just think Apple now is just a great marketing/lawsuit company. As Jobs removes himself from Apple, I think Apple will become more of the status quo, if that hasn’t begun already…
Didn’t waste much time, did you, Jth? Points for not using the word “doomed.”
Tim Cook’s been running the company for awhile now. “The next product line,” as you bravely describe it, has been in development for years.
But oh, that ellipsis! What awful events does it suggest…
Having used Apple products since the 1970s, one thing I have noticed that Apple has put out great products that have continued to change my life for the better. Apple’s vision is not just limited to Mr. Jobs, but shared among millions of us that have been touched by it. Apple was not, nor ever was an ordinary company, and I am pretty sure that part of it will not change.
Apple will be fine for the next few years, but honestly by 2013 or 2014 what will iPhones or iPads be doing that they can’t do now? Jobs was a unique figure in that he was both the CEO and a brilliant inventor. I highly doubt Apple can innovate or improve its products lines without Jobs.
Apple is a well run company of course and Jobs taking a back seat due to what everyone must assume is his health problems will not effect the sales of iPhones this holiday season.
But what will be the next big product Apple releases post Steve Jobs era? I mean already iPods are obsolete, but still sell? iTunes is getting competition from other big tech companies now too. iPhones are 5 years old and as strong as ever, but in the quickly growing smartphone business its innovate or die! iPads are still selling so fast, Apple cannot make enough of them.
Apple will be fine for a little while, its when those products fail to innovate or excite people any more when Apple will start to slow down. Apple will not lose its brilliant marketing, but its losing its biggest asset- founder, inventor, and CEO- STEVE JOBS!!!
Apple will not lose its style, but it is losing its substance which is far more important…
Yes sir that day had come alright…time to step down. After he does though, how is Apple going to be managed. Either way they’ll be good for a good amount of time until one day Google eclipse them. It’s pretty realistic too. Oh well. Steve will go down in history as one of the best that ever did it. Bill Gates, you’re next
To the plonkers like Jth and Miggles who seem to think a company like Apple plans no further than a couple of years into the future, and that all the execs will suddenly forget what they’ve learnt under Jobs and turn into a pile of bumbling idiots:
Seriously?
You really think SJ didn’t know this day was coming, and hasn’t planned this transition as meticulously and thoughtfully as everything else? You think he hasn’t had ample time to put a team in place that he believes are able to carry on doing what Apple does best? You think that Tim Cook hasn’t been running the company anyway for the past 2 years?
I find hysterical people like you both amusing and depressing at the same time.
Where in my post did I say Apple wouldn’t adjust to this? I am just saying within a few years it will be a different company. This will not happen overnight, but it will happen.
Would Apple product launches be as exciting if Steve Jobs wasn’t the one presenting them? Apple will still have the same great marketing team it has now, but the hype behind product launches will be gone without Jobs.
Also I strongly believe Jobs is still the guy dreaming up Apple products and without his vision it will just be more of a steering of the ship of iPods, itunes, iPhones, iPads, etc. without the innovation and inventiveness we have come to expect.