The man known as much for his role at Apple as his ubiquitous black turtleneck, Steve Jobs has officially resigned his role as the CEO of Apple as of today. In his place, chief operating officer Tim Cook will take the spotlight.
It appears that a large reason for Steve Jobs stepping down is because of health concerns. Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and received a liver transplant two years ago. He has also been on an extended medical leave since January, making only a few appearances such as the iPad 2 release. His health has been a widely-discussed concern, and rightfully so.
“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,” Jobs said in his resignation letter. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”
Tim Cook, CEO
Often cited as the visionary behind Apple’s success since his return to the company in 1997, the vacuum Jobs leaves behind puts Apple’s future into question. With the delay of the iPhone 5 past its expected release timeframe, Apple has already been under scrutiny as it is.
Also, while Jobs is confident in longtime Apple employee Tim Cook, Cook needs to prove to both fans and investors that Apple will not stumble during the transition—a feat that will prove difficult. While Cook is a bright guy in his own right, he doesn’t carry the charisma or showmanship that Jobs flaunted on stage.
In the meantime, Steve Jobs is still sticking around—for the time being, anyways. Now the elected chairman of the board of directors, Jobs will “continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration,” as said by Apple board member Art Levinson.
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