Jobs to Remain Closely Involved in Apple's Product Strategy

[WatchTheThrone]

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I think the iPhone 5 will be introduced by Steve himself since I believe no one can do a keynote quite like him!!
I wish Steve the best.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I concur

I have held the image since his medical leave in January that Steve's wife, family and close friends held an "Intervention" with him, saying, in effect:

"If you keep working at the pace that you have been working, that stress on top of your pancreas health issues will kill you in 2 years. Give up being in total control, meditate, go to the beach and guide Apple from a greater distance and you can live to an old age and continue to have a big impact."

I think that is what he has been doing, giving the presentation at the WWDC, creating agreements with China Telecom etc. and he now has confidence that Apple can prosper with him being 'navigator' and without his hand on the tiller at all times.

May it be so.

Very nicely put, very well said!I believe it to be exactly as you say, continue on, pulling a string here and there, do some traveling, relaxing, spending money, and come back for product announcements, build his new home, come in for the dedication of the new Campus, and the release of this new product coming up, drop back, kick back and smell the roses, with the family

 

[vitzr]

As long as they can keep Jobs true medical condition a secret they will. Those who are in denial about the matter are the only ones who'll be surprised when the reality is finally revealed. It's not like he only has the flu.

 

[Winni]

Microsoft basically made the same announcement when Bill Gates resigned as CEO. It's a bone they have to throw to the press to slow down the free fall of the stock prices.

 

[alexexexex]

Well, Tim Cook has been temporary CEO ever since Jobs announced his medical leave... so he is probably now taking over completely. It was probably only a matter of time before SJ handed him the CEO position.

Either way... I am in shock. I really had hoped to see SJ on the stage announcing the iPhone 5 among other things at the Sept conference... This is just... wow.

The Chairman of Apple can't announce a product?

 

[jonnysods]

This has been well planned out for a while it seems. I'm happy for Tim Cook, he ran Apple for about 9 months and did a great job.

BUT. The keynotes won't be the same anymore....

 

[Gasu E.]

The Chairman of Apple can't announce a product?

He could, but I doubt he will. Handing off the keynote is an important symbol of orderly succession-- something critical to the future of the company, and something stockholders need assurance of.

 

[rdowns]

The Chairman of Apple can't announce a product?

Jobs won't be on stage for any keynotes. His presence would only serve to undermine Cook and the new products being announced.

 

[chrmjenkins]

It's obvious they've been grooming Tim Cook for this role. His role as temporary CEO over the past several months shows that Apple's performance will hold strong. They announce this right before the iphone 5 launch so that the positive press will drown out lingering speculations and show Apple is still on top form.

Shareholders demanded a succession plan. This is it. Tim Cook is CEO and Jobs can stay chairman until the day he dies if he pleases and it won't cause panic as a capable man is still at the helm.

 

[dernhelm]

Cook will be an excellent CEO. Despite all the people that think that Apple was run as a "cult of personality", Jobs put together an excellent team of people to lead the company. I think he realized that part of his legacy would be in having Apple succeed long after he left it.

I'm not sure Bill Gates can say the same thing. Microsoft has never really been the same since he left. It's too big to die completely, but it seems be lost a little right now.

 

[Lee Adama]

Let's just hope Cook does it better than Ballmer(probably will).

Cook has done it better than Ballmer. Cook has essentially been in charge since January. This just makes everything "official".

 

[The Beatles]

Strange that Jobs leaving affects me. I just don't see other companies that have all the traits that Jobs had. Quality, Vision, Business sense, Quality, Cool factor, Passion, User oriented, Leadership, Quality, Simplicity, etc...

 

[xbjllb]

Truly horrific news, thanks a lot!

Guess the maxim "NEVER BUY A COMPUTER FROM A TOY PHONE COMPANY" IS going to make its way into the public lexicon after all...