“Who can replace Steve Jobs? When Apple needed a substitute after its iconic CEO backed out of delivering his annual keynote at the upcoming Macworld conference, it tapped Phil Schiller, its senior vice president of worldwide marketing,” Troy Wolverton writes for The San Jose Mercury News.
Wolverton writes, “The announcement last week that Schiller will fill in for Jobs at next month’s event begs a larger question: Who might step into Jobs’ shoes when he eventually departs Apple?”
Here are some of the personalities who top the list:
• Phil Schiller, 48, Senior vice president, worldwide product marketing
• Tim Cook, 48, Chief operating officer
• Ron Johnson, 50, Senior vice president, retail
• Bill Campbell, 68, Co-lead director at Apple and chairman of Intuit
Full article here.
What about Scott Forstall? From what I’ve seen, he’s very smart, and is a lot like Steve. And he’s young. I would think that he would at least make this list. Just my 2 cents.
Beo
What is missing from the resume of each and every one of the people who have been proposed as Steve’s replacements is vision—the ability to visualize what most people can’t even imagine until someone like Steve Jobs shows it to them. This kind of vision is a rare talent, not something you can pick up just by working at Apple, no matter how diligently.
I hereby demand that you cease and desist with this never-ending crap about His Steveness’ replacement. God.
Bill Campbell!!!??? We don’t need no st–k-ng Eskimos in charge.
Oh! Sorry – Intuit.
Besides Intuit is the biggest loser for Mac stuff.
I don’t know, but I know Schiller and Cook just about put me to sleep when they give keynotes. I’d just as soon listen to Jony Ive as any of those guys.
This kind of vision is a rare talent, not something you can pick up just by working at Apple, no matter how diligently.
Absolutely. Remember, Jobs had his talent before Apple.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
The big question is whether a Steve Jobs could be spotted and groomed under a… Steve Jobs. Things are of course different in a large corporation than in a garage startup. Remember how Woz and Jobs were brushed off by their big employers.
Lisa Brennan-Jobs.
Why is this list full of people who are around the same age or older than Steve? What sense does that make?
I have to agree with Beowlf and say Scott is a likely candidate. He seems to have come out of nowhere recently and is the most Steve-like person we’ve seen yet. Although I really do like Johnny Ive. He’s got a spark as well, but his shyness means no major keynotes and low visibility are his thing.
People, People… two words: Steve Wozniak.
In what I believe to be a secret deal made in 1987, the other Steve agreed to step down from his post at Apple Computer at the request of Pepsi flunky John Sculley. Woz is reported to have said to Sculley, “I’ll leave if you’ll agree to grand-father me in as then next CEO after Steve Jobs”. Sculley of course agreed, thinking that Woz was having another one of his anterograde amnesia episodes. Of course, Woz was not and he could forsee the future in which the Apple Board of Directors would beg Jobs to return to the helm and restore Apple to it’s glory and Chairlift the company finally up the mountain to total market domination… ahem.
Once there … Woz could assume an introverted leadership role and roll-out even more futuretastic inventions never dreamed of before. Get ready for the quote: “Oh, and just 3 more things”
I too am sick to death and fed up with these articles and speculation. Is this wishful thinking or are people so bored they compulsively keep regurgitating this nonsense?
I hope Steve outlasts us all and remains at Apple long after every single vulture who’s written one of these articles draws their last breath!
MDN – Here are some reasons you probably don’t want to drive traffic to the San Jose Mercury News or Troy Wolverton: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/08/05/more-on-troy-wolverton-the-street-and-apple-scandal/
And I’m with ron on this. I realize that these stories are out there, so it makes sense that MDN would cite them and invite us to comment on them, but seriously, this is getting to the point of overkill. Knock it off already, please.
God, I hope that when steve does retire they replace him someone who’s competent. We do not need a repeat of what happened the last time jobs left Apple.
I wonder if Bin Ladin will be short listed? After all the guy can knock the competitor’s product right to the ground for, how long has it been now…7 years (they are going to rebuild those towers… right … eventually … ) and not only has evaded the authorities they sent most of them looking elsewhere for someone else who was even not involved. Talk about scapegoating.
Can you imagine what would happen to MS if he lead Apple?
Al Gore! He’s got vision, and gives a good keynote.
Me…me…me…me…please!!!!!!!!
i would go with tim cook, he’s sexy and handsome! lotsa charisma for the ladies…and some gents.
syke!!!
Maybe the next CEO will bring back the rainbow logo for you as well.
Since Steve Jobs isn’t going anywhere the question is irrelevant,
I really don’t know, but I’ll wager that Steve Jobs certainly does!
Even though Steve Jobs’ achievements at Apple are unlikely to ever be equalled, rather than waiting for the inevitable to happen (however far away that may be), it’s probably in Apple’s best long-term interests to carry out a slow, gradual transition by offering greater leading roles to whoever is to be his successor. Depending on factors we’ll be unaware of, maybe that process now needs to be hastened.
<b>Who can replace Steve Jobs as Apple CEO?</i>
I can. Elect me and I’ll make these promises!
1: Dual Firewire/USB 2 on all iPods/iPhones.
2: Copy and paste on iPhones/iPod Touch.
3: Choice of matte or glossy screens on all computers.
4: A mini-tower Mac.
5: A touch screen Mac.
6: GAMES!! 3D Games too!!
7: User changable parts on all Mac’s, upgrade your video card yourself!!
8: Removable battery on all iPods/iPhones etc.
9: No markup on extra RAM or hard drives, we will install it for FREE!
10: Crossover integrated in OS X so you can run most Windows software!
Vote for Me!!
You know, that article over at WSJ go me thinking about this topic, not replacement of Steve, but more the timing and getting people to think about Apple without Steve front and center.
Seems like with the Stock and the markets in the dumper, there isn’t a better time for Apple to deal with the transition of Steve.
Maybe, just maybe Steve is taking advantage of the down market to push this news through with the least impact on the stock, setting the stage to push the stock to a much higher levels when the recession begins to ebb.
Also, @ron
Totally agree on Intwit!
People!
Why do you think Apple has over 20 billion in the bank? They are currently creating and programming the iSteve replacement robot. When Steve starts giving keynotes again, you’ll know they are test driving it.
“Just one more thing one more thing one more thing….”
Crap! Back to the drawing board.
Since Steve Jobs isn’t going anywhere the question is irrelevant
Steve may not be <i>planning<i> on going anywhere. However, when you have a CEO of Steve’s caliber heading a company of Apple’s size, it’d be extremely irresponsible NOT to have succession plans covering emergency, short-term, and long-term scenarios.
The question is relevant, because you don’t want to wait until a crisis to start making a list of potential candidates. The chance is too great you’ll be blinded by the moment and hire the absolutely wrong person. (Which brings yet another crisis, as you attempt to undo the damage….)
It’s only prudent to have qualified people “in the wings”, just in case.
PARIS HILTON !!!
I voted for her for President too. Apple needs a new image:
Young and sleazy!
She’s innovative too. Ever hear of the iDildo?