Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.
“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board, in the press release. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”
“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” added Levinson. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”
Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.
As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.
Source: Apple Inc.
Steve Jobs’ letter to the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:
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.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.
Steve
MacDailyNews Take: The end of an astonishing era and the beginning of a new one.
Thank you, Mr. Jobs for everything you have done in an amazing, legendary career. What you have engineered will go down in history as one of the greatest success stories of all time.
Good luck to Mr. Jobs, Chairman of the Board, and to Mr. Cook, Apple Inc.’s new CEO!
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This is probably good news for apple stock. Though they will take a hit tomorrow. It ends a lot of speculation about Job’s Health, and What would happen if the worst became of Steve. Tim is a major force, and Apple is in good hands. Heck — When I heard this I ran out and bought an iPad.
Board member Art Levinson said. “In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”-
So that basically means that Steve will STILL be touching the magic that comes out of our beloved company. I do wish his health is improving regardless of this news. LONG LIVE STEVE!
Thank you Steve for all you have done. You have changed my life as well as many others. Good luck.
While Steve is indeed a visionary, he’s not responsible for the designs that people love about Apple products. It was, however, Steve who recognised the talent of the designer who was being sidelined and was close to quitting, and gave him free reign to be as creative as he wished. That was Jonny Ive, who is responsible for Apple’s industrial design divison and without whom Steve would not have the products, that people all over the world love so much, to sell. I used to use a Mac prior to the introduction of the jelly bean iMac, and it’s successor afterwards. From an anonymous beige box to the sleek, shiny curvy silver and anthracite PowerPC tower, something you were proud to have sitting on the desktop, instead of hidden underneath it. It was Steve’s vision as a businessman, seeing the potential of the young designer with an obsessive passion for flawless industrial design. As long as Jonny’s there, I have no concerns for Apple’s future.
I second that…
i wish him the best.
I just wish the headline was “Steve Jobs Promoted to Chairman”, instead of “Steve Jobs Quits as CEO”.
Geez! I was thinking the same thing!
Boom! MDN
Steve – take care dude, you are a gentleman
This transition is going to go well. Steve Jobs knows like no one else what it is like to put exactly the wrong person in charge of his company. (Cough-Sculley-Cough-Marketing-Cough-As-Cough-Management-Cough). Tim Cook is going to be terrific.
Meanwhile, Steve Jobs remains as Chairman of the Board.
Laugh at the inevitable PaNiC on Wall Street while Apple continues to kick the ‘competition’, such as it is.
We <3 you Steve Jobs! Hang in there and thanks for your wonderful insights so far!
Gulp….
We all knew it was coming but the shock is no less.
God be with you Steve
@”Gulp….
We all knew it was coming but the shock is no less.
God be with you Steve”
Yes, I know, you are correct. We did and yes.. it is still a kick to the stomach! Wish him the very best and will continue to visualize him getting well.
And Apple stock price plummets and smart investors buys when it hits bottom. Apple is safe without Jobs now.
Genesis: Chapter 1: Verse 1:
In the beginning there was darkness….
Chapter 1: Verse 2:
…And then there was Steve to lead us out of the darkness and into the light.
Thanks for the iPod Steve it started it all….
Boo Hoo! It’s the end of an era! I hope this has nothing to do with his health and the patents thing, you have been my idol and I’m 11 I am on an iPod touch right now looking soon into a macintosh. As a wise man quoted ‘We love you, Steve’
I hope Steve lives many more years and at least long enough to see his “spaceship” campus built.
Had Steve stepped down several years ago before Apple wildly succeeded in implementing his convergence strategy, then this would be a disaster for Apple. However Apple’s culture has fully absorbed its Steveness and it is now safe for Steve to step down as CEO without worrying that Apple will go in the wrong direction.
Thank you Steve !!!
I wish you well,you are and you were the best!!!!
My house is all Apple.
I find myself misty-eyed as I read this article, as I know what it truly means…
What Steve has done to free us from the chains of mediocrity and empty contracts is astounding.
I will miss his vision, and I will always stand by his business plan, in my own endeavors.
Good luck and many days, Steve.
Perfect timing and class execution.
Apple’s best days are ahead of it and it will reign supreme for many years over a new post PC era, heralded in and by the genius and vision of the one and only : Steve Jobs.
Tim cook is not only a disciple but also a highly qualified and focused top man, hand picked and motivated by Jobs and everything Jobs believes in. He will take Apple to the next level while navigating to where no company has ever gone before, from the monumental new headquarters Steve Jobs planned- The Apple Cupertino Spaceship.
1st Class all the way Steve – An example for all !!!- A toast to you and all you’ve done for the world and for your forever loyal customers.
Jobs already had a storied career as the co-founder of Apple. The additional tale of his exile, triumphant return and stewardship in guiding an ailing Apple from shaky status to the powerhouse it is today ranks as one of the greatest corporate comeback tales of all time.
The man has done more than any other person to bring computing to the masses. I wish him well and continued success and vigor.
Thank you Steve !!!
I wish you well, and thank you everything!!!
Thanks to You my house is all Apple!!!
Why don’t they just just inject some stem cells into his liver and just see what happens. What is there to lose?
I am still hopeful. In his letter he says he still wants to be an employee at apple. As long as that happens he will have a lot of input.
By the way, let them screw the stock price as much as they want tomorrow, I’ll be there picking more up.
He may not be CEO, but he’s still chairman of the board and you can bet he’ll have approval over all products released till the day he dies, which hopefully won’t be for a long while.
Thank You Steve for all you have done. We are a all Apple Family. We know you would not have stepped down regardless of health if you did not feel your visionary leadership and extremely well thought out designs and innovation would not continue in Tim Cooks leadership. Thank You for changing the world like you have!
hmmhhh! I was really shocked to read about this. The jos era has ended. What will happen next?
Please tell me that he did noxvt resign due to his health getting worse.
All the best to Steve and Tim, and Apple Corp. You guys “rock” and in addition to being a shareholder, we have all the great gadgets you have designed. Hoping the future is brighter than the past.
Very sad. We’ll miss Steve’s influence and passion. I wish him all the best and hope his health stabilizes and improves.
Good luck to Tim Cook. Here’s to many successful years at the helm of the worlds most prolific technology company.
I am thankful for the time we have had SJ as the CEO. Even more thankful for the time we will have that remains no matter the position! As long as he is still an employee… does the title really matter??
Comments like …”Been a great ride!” are just unfounded. What makes you think it will end??
If you think vision @ Apple is gone now… you have not been watching very well. Or very long!
I look forward to the future Apple.
SJ groomed a great team (S) . Let them work.
Not that they need it, but show confidence in them.
They do and will still create and build the best that money can buy.
Keep in mind… On the fateful day SJ does pass…. He will still be and continue to be smarter, more innovative, and visionary than ALL of his peers!
A sad day for us & US indeed.
We have been blessed enough.
SJ spend your time with those you Love.
my $.02
TR