Jonathan Ive in Line to Succeed Steve Jobs?

[MacRumors]

Though mostly speculative, Timesonline.co.uk profiles Apple's Vice-President of Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive, as a possible successor CEO to Steve Jobs.

The author suggests that there has been some call for a plan for 'Apple after Steve Jobs', who is currently 52 years old. Jonathan Ive might be the man to take that place. Ive and Jobs are said to share a similar perfectionist attitude and are in close contact on a daily basis.

“I think Steve Jobs has found somebody in Jony who knows how to complete or even exceed his vision, and do it time and time again,” said Chee Pearlman, who hosted the event at which Mr Ive spoke four years ago.

Of course, some doubt that Ive has the charisma to replace Jobs as CEO, in what has been a very public role.

The question of Steve Jobs successor has been raised before, with one suggestion that Google's CEO Eric Schmidt might have taken a temporary role as Apple CEO back during the option-backdating scandal.



Article Link

[Blue Velvet]

I would choose competence over charisma any day.

[Willis]

Seeing as Ive has come out with most of recent Apple products, you can start to understand why. However, if Ive wasnt guiding the designs, who would take his place?!

[Eric Lewis]

Id be a good CEO!

[viniciusc]

That sounds good, Jon seems to be a very competent and visionist person.

[InkMaster]

Originally Posted by Willis

Seeing as Ive has come out with most of recent Apple products, you can start to understand why. However, if Ive wasnt guiding the designs, who would take his place?!

Why me of course, is there any other logical choice?

[flopticalcube]

Originally Posted by Blue Velvet

I would choose competence over charisma any day.

Unfortunately both are required to lead a successful company these days. Some people can hide incompetence but charisma is easy to spot and impossible to fake so we end up with CEO's that look competent and charismatic but are truly incompetent. Jobs was a rare duck indeed.

[valdore]

They'd better get the right person or our stock will plummet the second Jobs slips on the lane at a bowling alley.

[OwlsAndApples]

Ive is a genius, but he's not a showman like Jobs.
Anyway...he'd still be my first choice.

[MacsRgr8]

Well, he has been my choice for a some years now.
It *seems* he has the vision, perseverance, charisma close to that of Mr. Jobs.

But.... but.... there is no 2nd Steve. Once the day comes that Steve announces his retirement, Apple shares would fall faster than a free fall.
I only hope that in the long term it wouldn't matter so much.

The biggest stuff has been done:
- Mac OS X
- Intel
- iPod
- iPhone
- iTMS

Keep up this good work for another 5 years, and I assume Steve's huge influence can start to relax...

[SciTeach]

Originally Posted by valdore

They'd better get the right person or our stock will plummet the second Jobs slips on the lane at a bowling alley.

It will anyway when Steve leaves. Look at any major corporation that had a well-known CEO/leader and he they left, the stock falls.

As for charisma vs. competence: I'll choose competence. Get the 'Mac' guy to do MWSF each year for the charisma.

[bdkennedy1]

Jonathan Ive is a wonderful designer, but hardly the one to replace Steve. Jonathan stays away from publicity and didn't even like the publicity he received for designing the iPod.

Someone that doesn't want to be in the public eye cannot CEO a company.

[Much Ado]

Jobs is overseeing the rise of OSX, the takeover of iPhone and the progression of Apple into a new era.

He's going nowhere.

[daneoni]

Hmmm maybe with training. He doesn't seem to have enough 'jerk' and 'greed' in him. His reality distortive keynote skills may also be lacking.

[basesloaded190]

life without steve in charge of apple?? i can't imagine!!?? nor do i want to, at least for now

[MacinDoc]

Apple isn't just about the products, it's about bringing ideas of how computers and similar devices should work to the people, in a world dominated by the opposition. If Apple does not have a charismatic leader, it will flounder. Just look at its history after SJ left the first time.

Of course, it could be argued that some of Apple's leaders in that era were neither charismatic nor competent.

[fistful]

I remember seeing a video of Ive talking about industrial design (I think about the G4 iMac) he may not have the charisma of Jobs but he seemed quite passionate and personable. I think he'd make a competent replacement, although by the time jobs steps down Ive may be too old to take the helm.

[dpalmes1]

Steve Jobs will die?!

[bommai]

When Steve was gone for a month during cancer treatment, Tim Cook took over. He has been second in command for a while now and I think he is the most likely candidate.

[MLeepson]

Ive would be no doubt a good choice, but I don't think the best choice. I think the best choice is someone we won't expect.

Ive is not a trained or schooled in programming or marketing. He's an artist.

Phil Schiller wouldn't be bad.

[darwen]

Originally Posted by Blue Velvet

I would choose competence over charisma any day.

I disagree with this. I think both are importiant and I think Ives has both. I think the head of apple needs to be incrediably down to earth. The head of a company needs to be competent but I don't think Ives would be where he is without competence.

[InkMaster]

Originally Posted by dpalmes1

Steve Jobs will die?!

hahahaha! yeah right!

[n00basaur]

Pick me! Pick me!

[jonnyb]

Arrgh - please correct that misspelling of Jonathan early in the story!

Thanks,

Jonathan

[HTrig]

hes definitely not steve jobs but this interview does show that he at least wont totally collapse if interviewed