Tim Cook to Apple Employees: "Apple is Not Going to Change"

[MacRumors]

Ars Technica reports that new Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent out an email to Apple employees expressing his enthusiasm for officially taking the reins of the company and reassuring employees that "Apple is not going to change." The full text of the email:

Team:

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I've ever made and it's been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve's optimism for Apple's bright future.

Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve's ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple's unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that--it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is.

Tim

Cook has gained a solid reputation for his leadership abilities and work to streamline Apple's operations. He has also clearly embraced the Apple concept as revealed by the "Cook Doctrine" he laid out over two years ago as he took on the role of overseeing Apple's day-to-day operations during one of Steve Jobs' medical leaves of absence.

TUAW's Michael Grothaus, a former Apple employee, also offers a personal impression of Tim Cook, noting the thoughtfulness and careful consideration he gives when speaking as an example of his leadership abilities "sans ego".

Tim Cook is one of those rare people who stop and think before speaking. Standing in the same room with him I realized that he's comfortable with silence as long as that silence is productive and appropriate. He's not like other tech execs who ramble almost immediately and incoherently at any question lobbed at them, as if doing so will convince others they know everything about everything.

Tim Cook is a person who has confidence in his position as a leader, sans ego. Ego doesn't take pauses. It's rapid-fire. And it's that confidence and lack of ego that allows him the time to examine the issues and questions at hand, no matter how lowly or silly others may think them, and address them appropriately.

Cook has been at Apple since 1998, and while he has played a primary role in hosting Apple's earnings conference calls, he has until relatively recently remained quietly in the background when it comes to Apple's mainstream public appearances. But the company in recent months has been making a more active role for him, most notably as the on-stage representative for Apple at the introduction of the Verizon iPhone earlier this year.

Article Link: Tim Cook to Apple Employees: "Apple is Not Going to Change"

 

[talkingfuture]

Good luck to him, I think he'll do very well. As a lot of people said, Jobs created a culture at Apple that should survive intact for a long time.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Now the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley.

EDIT: Certainly, Mr. Cook’s private life is his own, but it seems that many would believe that a gay man becoming the head of the second most valuable company in the world a major milestone in human history.

 

[arcite]

Good luck to him, I think he'll do very well. As a lot of people said, Jobs created a culture at Apple that should survive intact for a long time.

Agreed. Apple really is a different company today that it was ten years ago. Just wait until they move into their new headquarters! I'm sure Apple will continue to be on the cutting edge of innovation for the next generation.

 

[FriarNurgle]

I can't imagine any major shifts that would stop me from buying Apple.

 

[saving107]

Now the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley.

Though he is Gay, I don't see how that is relevant. He is now "One of the most powerful man in Silicon Valley," the gay part doesn't have to be included.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Now the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley.

Why do you feel you must state he's Gay? Is He?, don't know, dont care!
Steve wants him for his expertice, could care less about his lifestyle

 

[propea]

The new macbook pro will be called Macbook Lisa.

 

[crazy4apple]

Though he is Gay, I don't see how that is relevant. He is now "One of the most powerful man in Silicon Valley," the gay part doesn't have to be included.

well said, as long as he has Jobs vision on where apple is headed it does not matter

and aslong as they deliver retina display ipad3 in the new year it will be hunky dory

 

[adztaylor]

Now the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley.

EDIT: Certainly, Mr. Cook’s private life is his own, but it seems that many would believe that a gay man becoming the head of the second most valuable company in the world a major milestone in human history.

No it shouldn't be a milestone. It should be the norm. A complete non issue. I had no idea he was and frankly I don't care. No need to be mentioned.

 

[nwcs]

Certainly, Mr. Cook’s private life is his own, but it seems that many would believe that a gay man becoming the head of the second most valuable company in the world a major milestone in human history.

No, a major milestone is landing on the moon. This shouldn't even be a footnote in the farmer's almanac.

 

[antifeik]

The new macbook pro will be called Macbook Lisa.

hahahaha fuka aryhere,lol

 

[TWSS37]

This is the equivalent of Mr. Smithers taking over for Mr. Burns.

 

[Mr. Chewbacca]

Talk about size 100 shoes to fill.

He has been doing great so far, do forget we still have Ivy to cover the OCD design

 

[NAG]

Just to address the 100 ton gorilla in the room (oh no...now we're going to debate the appropriateness of large gorillas!)...

Eh, so what if someone mentions he is gay. It wasn't done in a demeaning way so the statement should matter just as much as the fact that he is gay. It is like how guys are often flanked by mention of whether they are married and how many kids they have.

Anyway, I'd say I'm anxious to see how Cook handles the CEO spot. But I can't because probably nothing much will change. I'd like to say I'm anxious because change is exciting. Probably biggest change we can look forward to is seeing how they handle keynotes. Please please please find someone new (the current Apple execs are great but they don't match Jobs for showmanship).

 

[MonkeySee....]

Certainly, Mr. Cook’s private life is his own, but it seems that many would believe that a gay man becoming the head of the second most valuable company in the world a major milestone in human history.

Great, everything is now going to be Pink


















I jest of course.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Why do you feel you must state he's Gay? Is He?, don't know, dont care!
Steve wants him for his expertice, could care less about his lifestyle

It's significant because it makes him an excellent role model for any gay male who is concerned about his hopes of advancing in a professional environment. Just like women in leadership roles serve as role models.

Grow up Mr. Immature.

Actually, you should look at your own biases if you assume someone can't make a statement like that without meaning it in a negative way.


With that being said, I bet this announcement was planned to take place before the iphone 5 announcement so that when they do announce the iphone 5, the hype overwhelms negative sentiments surrounding Jobs' departure as CEO.

 

[mKizzo]

Looking forward to a new era. Good luck Tim

 

[jhnnyklry9394]

I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out for Apple even though I truly doubt much will change... Good luck Tim!

 

[NAG]

It's significant because it makes him an excellent role model for any gay male who is concerned about his hopes of advancing in a professional environment. Just like women in leadership roles serve as role models.


With that being said, I bet this announcement was planned to take place before the iphone 5 announcement so that when they do announce the iphone 5, the hype overwhelms negative sentiments surrounding Jobs' departure as CEO.

Too bad they couldn't do it last week. Would be interesting to see if HP leaving the computer business is more or less important than Jobs morphing from CEO to chairman of the board (and honestly, the former is more important).

 

[jmsait19]

with Jobs still being Chairman, who is to say they won't tag him for Keynotes?

And agreed on the gay thing... I had no idea, and really it doesn't even matter... It wouldn't, and shouldn't, have been noteworthy if he was straight? or black? or canadian? would it? so I don't know why it matters if he's gay... the sooner everyone let's go of that, the sooner it becomes a non-issue.

 

[NateBiggity]

Why can't we talk about the lack of gay leaders in Silicon Valley if we can talk about the lack of women leaders in the whole world of business?

TED Talk: Sheryl Sandberg - Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders

 

[Shrink]

No it shouldn't be a milestone. It should be the norm. A complete non issue. I had no idea he was and frankly I don't care. No need to be mentioned.

I agree, almost completely. It should not be notable, in the best of all possible worlds.

Unfortunately, we still live in a homophobic world. Noting that a gay man is capable of leading a major corporation is news for some - those who somehow consider gays, or african americans, or other minorities lesser beings of somehow diminished competence.

When Obama was elected (no matter what one thinks of him) it was notable that he was the first person of color to be elected to the office. Once again, in a better world, it should not matter. In our world of prejudice - it is notable.

I do, again, agree it should be a non-issue. I look forward to the time when it is truly irrelevant.

 

[ArztMac]

Good luck to Tim Cook.

He'll do great, but so would a ton of other people. Apple is functioning as it is.

What we'll get is regular refreshes of beloved products, a new iPad every year, a new iPhone every year, new iPods every year. Every 2-3 years a new product or category will be introduced. Soon we'll get a peek at Apple's brand new operating system, perhaps OS XI, and so on.

I predict that for the forseeable future only the regular speaker at Apple Keynotes will change.

WHICH IS GREAT NEWS!

This is ALL to the credit of Steve Jobs. He made it like this. He created Apple and he would not leave his executive leader position if he even had the smallest of doubts that Apple would stray of its course... Thanks Steve!

 

[NAG]

or canadian?

Whoa now. Lets take things one step at a time here.