It’s being reported, and this news is coming in live as I type this, that Apple founder and Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs has tonight resigned as the head of the company. According to the AFP news agency he’s to be replaced by Tim Cook, the company’s current Chief Operating Officer.
Steve Jobs has been suffering from pancreatic cancer since 2004 and has now had to take two periods of medical leave from the company. On each occasion, questions have been asked about how Apple can and will cope without him at the helm, most recently when shareholders demanded a statement on whether he would be remaining with the company or not in early 2011.
Steve Jobs founded Apple with his friends Steve Wozniak and Mike Markkula. He left the company over arguments in 1984 when he founded NeXT computers and later bought the computer graphics division of LucasFilm, which was later spun off as Pixar. He returned to Apple to 1996 to turn around the company’s fortunes with the first iMac where he brought new designers and new ideas to the company. Since then Apple has gone from strength to strength and is now the most valuable technology company on the planet.
It’s unsurprising then that shareholders in Apple and the financial markets would be concerned about any future the company may have without Jobs at the helm. He has been absent from the company now for a while and obviously the decision has been taken that it’s best for him not to return in a full time capacity. It is likely that, unless his medical condition has deteriorated in recent months, that he will continue to work with Apple on a part-time basis.
It should be stressed that there is no official confirmation of this news, only a report by the AFP news agency. There is also no word on Steve Jobs’ health, and nobody should speculate on either. At gHacks though we would like to wish Steve Jobs well. He is truly a technology visionary and a very important man in the history of personal computing.
UPDATE —————
This news has now been confirmed. Jobs has issued a statement saying he “could no longer meet his chief executive’s duties and expectations.” More details in full, including an official statement from Apple, will no doubt follow in the next few days.
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He is now the Chairman of the board, Apple won’t let go of him that easily ;)
Regards
I think Steve has effectively been acting as Chairman
and not CEO since his last round of chemotherapy.
So for a time at least his duties will not change
as much as the change in titles seem to say.
I do think though it portends ill for his illness.
For that we can all wish him well and
full recovery against the odds.
Steve is a visionary to be sure and his
steadfast devotion to excellence is a legacy
to be admired not just for his ardent supporters
but also for his ardent competitors and even critics.
I agree with Robert that Steve has not really been playing a vital role in everyday operations. He made Apple what it is today though.
With Steve Wozniak, not Wokinak :)
You are right. Corrected.
Don’t buy the Logitech wireless illuminated keyboard… it’s rubbish! :(
It comes across as a big shock and the stock market have sensed this already .
I think Apple without Jobs will be similar to Microsoft without Gates. They’ll still be big and successful, but the “zing” will be missing. The stock market doesn’t seem to be too upset about it. A small downtick, but hardly what I would call tanking.
hes a GOD of computer… that man.. SJ.. hes gonna be a legend… when my child get old.. i will teach how a man can do awesome things with awesome ideas!1.. sometimes its not about money.. its just the satisfattion of being usefull.. men in history always want to be recognize but.. men should know recognize themselves as the ONE!1.. as perfect.. and.. AS A GIGANT..!!
i hope Steve get better.. a man like that.. cannot be replace.. he gotta create new stuff.. hes gonna reeinvent MAC and and APPLE then!!..