Just before the iPhone 5 release, slated in September, 2011, Steve Jobs quits as the Chief Executive Officer of Apple. As he had earlier promised “if there came a day I couldn’t meet my duties I would let you know”, he finally called it quits by stating that “Unfortunately, that day has come”, on August 24, 2011. He will now operate as the chairman of Apple. He has handed over the position of CEO to Tim Cook, former Chief Operating Officer of Apple. This change has been confirmed by Apple. Jobs was on medical leave since January, 2011 for an undisclosed medical condition. He confirmed his resignation through a letter addressed to the Apple board of directors and the Apple community and also informed that Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, will be the next CEO.
Steve Jobs is a pancreatic cancer survivor and also underwent a liver transplant recently. However, Apple has not included anything about Job’s health condition in the public statement regarding his resignation and sudden change.
Steve Jobs has been the finest creative mind behind Apple’s transformation and the driving force behind bringing the company to its current position of being the “world’s most innovative and valuable technology company”. Jobs made a remarkable turnaround for Apple with the iconic range of devices such as iPod, iPhone, and iPad. With the launch of the colorful and brightly designed iMac, various generations of iPod, iPhone, iPad and a vast selection of other products, Steve Jobs has himself become a tech legend and a tech celeb. The aura of his persona including his patent dress code ( jeans, black turtleneck with sneakers) radiated at each of the Apple’s product launches, other company events and various trade shows. Jobs steered Apple from being a two-manship startup in a garage to its present resurrection as the second-largest company in the world!
Much before the announcement came in, Tim Cook already started sharing the responsibilities ever since Jobs went on medical leave around 17 January, 2011. Cook has a remarkable thirty years of experience of serving as a leader in companies like IBM, Compaq and Intelligent Electronics before he started with Apple in 1998. Steve Jobs, in his new role of Chairman with the board of Apple, will continue to render creative insights and inspiration.
Steve Jobs is really a source of inspiration. He is Legend. Words are not sufficient to describe Steve Jobs.
t Apple makes the highest quality products with the best user experience. But, as they have become the most successful company in the world, they have also adopted the total control attitude of Steve Jobs.
Not to detract from his accomplishments, but there is already a consumer backlash against the, “Were only renting you music, videos, and content. We can recall it whenever we please” attitude of Apple.
This is surely a filter-down of Jobs’ approach. Apple will continue to be a creative, driving force in the high-tech market, but from the corporate culture standpoint, perhaps Jobs leaving is a good thing.