“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.”
Those are the words of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who shocked the tech world yesterday with the announcement that he has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Inc.
Back in the 1980’s, Microsoft was the dominant computer company, while Apple hung on by a thread as somewhat of a “specialty” company. But when Jobs took over the company, he literally revived Apple from the brink of irrelevance. His concept to take Apple Computers beyond being just a computer company saved the brand from extinction, and has since made it more dominant than Microsoft and a host of others trying to fit in.
Steve Jobs was the mastermind behind the original iPod, which revolutionized the way we all purchase and listen to music. Jobs was the creative force behind the iPhone, which turned the simple cell phone into a handheld computer and revolutionized our mobile access and communication. Next up was the iPad, the larger iPhone/smaller computer that has provided mobility to computing. And the full line of Apple laptops have never been more in demand. Steve Jobs and his “just one more thing” surprises during Apple product announcements have been so personally connected to the brand, it’s almost impossible to imagine anyone other than Jobs at the helm. So with such an impressive success record, why leave now?
No one knows for sure why Jobs chose to step down at this time. Some believe his health may be an issue, ever since pancreatic cancer surgery caused him to lose an incredible amount of weight and take an extended leave of absence from the company. Others believe with Apple riding high as perhaps the most valuable company in the world, this is the perfect time for a leadership change.
Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who has been groomed over the years for this very moment and was acting CEO during Jobs’ absence, has been named the new head of Apple. Steve Jobs will remain with the company as Chairman. But how will these mega changes affect the company structure and direction?
Apple is currently planning to introduce a brand new iPhone this fall, which will reportedly be dual band to work with Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and on any GSM network worldwide. Apple is also preparing to build a new headquarters so that their complete operations can all be under one roof. Although Apple stock dropped immediately following Jobs’ unexpected resignation, most analysts believe the appointment of Cook as CEO will make the transition of power almost seamless.
Whatever the reason for Jobs’ decision to step down at this time, he has certainly made his mark for being one of the most successful CEO’s in history. Wishing Steve Jobs good health, long life and godspeed.
