“In the world of technology, the words Apple and innovation have become practically synonymous. In one area, however, the maker of personal computers and consumer-electronic devices has shown an inability to think differently,” Rex Crum reports for The Columbus Dispatch.
“And that area is not an insignificant one: It’s the composition of its top leadership,” Crum reports.
“Chief Executive Steve Jobs [age: 52], who co-founded Apple in Cupertino, Calif., more than three decades ago, has grown so intertwined with the company that, to many, Jobs is Apple and vice versa. Given the company’s turbulence during his decade-long absence, Apple faces an extraordinarily difficult task in succession planning,” Crum reports.
“So far, the company has given few, if any, signs that it has even begun,” Crum reports. “An Apple spokesman said the possibility that Jobs will leave the company in the foreseeable future is remote.”
“Apple investors have benefited from Jobs’ second coming. He led the company in resurrecting the fortunes of its line of Macintosh computers as well as in the launch of the iPod, which has garnered a majority share of the market for digital music players,” Crum reports. “On Oct. 23, 2001, the day Apple unveiled the iPod, Apple’s stock closed at a split-adjusted price of $8.41. Shares closed last year around the $85 mark — up 900 percent. The stock has surged close to 50 percent since then, in the aftermath of the introduction of plans for its iPhone, which went on sale June 29. Shares closed [yesterday at $138.10.]”
Full article here.
Viva, Jobs!
Hopefully, Steve-O will be at Apple for a long time coming. NO ONE else would be able to come up with such amazing gadgets and technology.
What else could Steve have up his sleeve for this year ?
I vote for Jon Ive.
Keep control of the company in the hands of the creative people. The minute you give control to the marketing hacks, salesmen and bean counters, the game is over. Those people have no soul.
(see: Ballmer)
New iMac?
Seconded on the Jon Ive…
(Ballmer – shiver)
Third vote for Jon Ive.
Steve’s spot in business history is already reserved, and I have a feeling this is just the beginning.
I vote for me!
Well I guess I have to buy some more shares first!
I’m with macromancer. Jonathon Ive would be the logical choice, given his design brilliance. From the original iMac through the iPod and the G5 Series on. He’s my pick, although I don’t see Jobs going any time soon – being only 52 – unless he chooses to.
Ive has the “cool factor” and he’s certainly a genious industrial design director, but he’s no Steve Jobs.
He could not make the types of hard decisions which has led to Apple’s meteoric rise to success. If he can, he hasn’t shown that he can (yet).
Again I hope Jobs does not leave but I’m not sure anyone at the top management of Apple could really replace him. Guess we cross that bridge when we get there.
Jonathan Ive has to become next CEO.
We need more crreative people running big business, too many suits are in charge, people who think spreadsheets are attractive.
Jon Ive is The Man when it comes to design…but he may not love the business component. Here’s an excerpt from an interview with him.
“Q. After graduating, you joined the design consultancy Tangerine. In retrospect, how useful was your experience there?
A. I was pretty naïve. I hadn’t been out of college for long but I learnt lots by designing a range of different objects: from hair combs and ceramics, to power tools and televisions. Importantly, I worked out what I was good at and what I was bad at. It became pretty clear what I wanted to do. I was really only interested in design. I was neither interested, nor good at building a business.”
The fact is that investment consultants shy away from Apple because it is consider a one man show. Sure 52 is young for Jobs to die of any illness but that is not the number one cause of death in the US – he drives and flies and crosses streets and don’t forget stalkers
I can’t imagine this article is of any interest or concern to anyone.
The question the Columbus Dispatch should be asking is: What will maker of Windows, Office and Zunes do if and when Steve Ballmer leaves Microsoft?
It would be a fascinating hypothesis for a remarkable, talented, out-of-the-box thinker and true original: Steve Ballmer.
Your potential. Our passion.™
Jonathan Ive may not be the ideal replacement for Jobs, but he doesn’t have much competition for the position. Most of the rest think that Apple’s success is due to Jobs’ marketing genius, and anyone who thinks that hasn’t got a clue. It’s his ability to pick the right products to develop, and then develop them with the user in mind (as opposed to the IT department) that makes the difference.
Zune Tang, you nearly made me choke on my lunch ROTFLMO.
What will maker of Windows, Office and Zunes do if and when Steve Ballmer leaves Microsoft?
come back to life?
I would guess that they might innovate in terms of inner political structure, as well. Ive wouldn’t make a good CEO because Steve has to do FAR more than make design decisions. Unless he’s received some training here, I don’t know that he has the unique combinations of strengths that makes Steve stand out.
In the last couple of years, we’ve seen Steve highlight a few individuals that comprise his inner circle. I’d bet that one of them will ultimately rise to the top, but because they all have worked together for so long, their vision has slowly been groomed to be Steve’s vision– maybe not 200%, but enough to keep the feel of what it means to be Apple.
I have worked around several world-class individuals in their fields. They make those around them see a level of performance and quality beyond the norm. Once you see it, you don’t want to sink back down. When Apple dipped last time, it was because the focus changed from quality to profit– because strangers were brought in from the outside and turned Apple into an also-ran.
That WILL not happen this time, as we apparently have several candidates (or various ages) being groomed for the job.
The thing about these kind of articles that always completely confounds me is that they talk about the “bad” years after Steve J. left Apple the first time possibly coming back after his next departure. The never mention that he was essentially fired by those with a different vision than him. Now that he is so firmly in control of the company, he can chooses his successor to keep Apple on the path that he has taken it on since his return. Yeah, the Rock Star adulation of Mac fans will need to find a new target when Steve J. departs, but the attention to detail, design, user-centricity and “coolness” of Apple will likely stay long after his departure.
I guess it’s be that time of the year yet again or there’s must be something in the water again – cause this same old story is popping up again!
I sure SJ has the issue well in hand and apple being apple the company will move forward without a hitch!
But if I had to guess I put my money on the design guy myself!
So when I turn 80 and my apple stock is up around $1,000 a share – then I get worried – so I guess I got another 20 years before I need to get up tight… <GRIN>
I’m more concerned about finally being able to get a new Mac than I am about whether or not Steve Jobs is still at Apple when I can indeed get it.
And don’t be giving me a hassle about shutting the fark up already and just getting a cheapo PC. Without OS X, it ain’t gonna happen.
while I agree with Ive for CEO…it’s to a extend that I agree.
Jobs and Ive, both are equal and their taste for simplicity.
I have to wonder if Ive can be the charismatic salesperson that Jobs is so famous for…I mean, so you can design, you can innovate…but can you woo people? can you sell them a hot potatoe and claim it’s the lastest and greatest?…that is the void we will need to fill.
until, then…may Steve Jobs live long, happy and prosper!
Potatoe?
Yawn…the stories continue to be written every few months. More FUD for us Apple folk.
In any case, when SJ departs, Apple will need a charismatic spokesperson more so than a CEO. Managing a large company can be done by many people. Ive et. al. obviously have the design aspect in place. Many of SJs inner circle are probably coming up with many of these ideas and filter them along with SJs input.
The key role that needs to be filled is the marketer/voice for Apple. For us old folks, remember Wozniak was the engineering brains behind Apple and SJ the marketer. It seems nothing has changed.
I’d say Apple will be good for another 25 years with Jobs at the helm.
I hope he’ll be creating further value for my retirement funds over all those years too.
@zerO
I think it is obviously time that investment consultants who “shy away” from Apple should either change their jobs or join the investment firm of Laura Put-A-Sell.
Meanwhile, being a CEO is much, much more than being a brilliant designer. Quite simply, you have to be the internally and externally respected conductor of an orchestra that plays a whole range of “instruments.”
On top of that, you need to be mesmerising showman, especially at a glamor company like Apple.
From the little I’ve seen of Ive, he does not appears to be CEO material. In fact, I would not be surprised if he himself laughed off any such suggestion. He probably just wants to be left alone to keep producing his wondrous creations.
Job’s ability to pick the products maybe something. But his ability to have the right people on board with him must be as high.
You can’t do what he’s done with a display of good taste alone…