“There is a lot of chatter about Tim Cook these days,” Eric Jackson writes for TheStreet. “With each passing day, Apple seems to hit a new 52-week low. Yesterday, it gave up the spot of “world’s biggest company by market cap” to Exxon. You don’t have a steadily shrinking stock price without calls for the head of the CEO. I get that.”
“Yet, I struggle to understand what the critics are saying should be done by Tim Cook’s replacement,” Jackson writes. “What would they do if they were the CEO of Apple today?”
Jackson writes, “Succeeding Steve Jobs is a thankless job. Can you remember which NBC show succeeded Seinfeld on Thursday nights? Me neither.”
MacDailyNews Take: Is that supposed to instill hope in the hearts of the hopeless AAPL shareholders?
Jackson writes, “Be more of a showman? Isn’t this more of point one? Cook is who he is. He can get all the communications coaching he wants but he’ll never be Jobs. And even if he was, that was just one aspect of what made Jobs special.”
“By and large, I think Cook is doing all the important things right. Shareholders — and bloggers (who usually aren’t shareholders) — are wrong in their panting for the head of Tim Cook. Sometimes the hardest thing to do in investing is doing nothing. And waiting,” Jackson writes. “If you don’t like Tim Cook or Apple, sell your shares (or short your stock) and don’t use their products. I bought more Apple stock yesterday.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Tim Cook is the perfect man for this very difficult job. We can think of nobody better. There are only three issues we have with Cook so far:
• Marketing: Steve Jobs held a three-hour meeting every Wednesday afternoon with his top agency, marketing and communications people to approve each new commercial, print ad, web ad, and billboard. Does Tim Cook? If he does, does he have anything close to Jobs’ sensibilities in this area? Judging from Apple’s marketing since Steve left the building, he does not. Therefore, Cook needs to find a marketing guru to take Steve’s place, conduct these Wednesday meetings, and hold his marketing peoples’ feet to the fire until he/she is extremely satisfied.
• Presentations: Nowhere is it more obvious that Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs than on stage. Jony Ive needs to be convinced to take his passion live onto the stage. We saw him do it with extraordinary aplomb at Steve Jobs’ memorial. We see him do it in each new major product’s marketing video. Cook needs to cede the stage to the guy at Apple who is closest to having Steve’s vision, passion and presentation skills. Cook doesn’t strike us as having an overblown ego. He should step back. If Jony is reticent, he needs to be convinced. There is no rule that the CEO has to be the one presenting at Apple events. It is a total waste for Cook to keep trying so obviously hard to do something that is not his forte when Jony exists and is sitting right there backstage. We don’t hang on Cook’s every word (we just wonder why he’s overemphasizing some of them so much). We hung on Steve’s every word. We hang on Jony’s every word. It’s that simple. At the very least, have Tim MC the events, but make sure Jony is the one out there doing the reveals and gushing about the products. If Jony really loves Apple, and we’re sure he does, then he should demand the job. Step back, Tim, and focus on doing what you’re good at.
• Operations: With his newfound extra time having Jony doing the events like he should be, Cook will have time to mentor and oversee his operations guy, Jeff Williams, and make sure nothing like the total fsckup that happened last quarter happens ever again. Apple is too big and too rich to screw up things like iMac availability for Christmas shopping season. This isn’t 1996. Steve Jobs would have gone on a spree with an axe. Tim Cook, operations genius, is ultimately responsible for Apple blowing some 800,000 iMac sales in fiscal Q113 (holiday quarter). (Hopefully, he blew them into this quarter.) If Apple had those iMacs ready like they should have, not two months late, then they would have handily beaten the street in all respects and we wouldn’t be having this conversation today.
Fix these three things (the marketing issue being the most difficult as Steve was a genius) and, like we said, Tim Cook is the perfect man for the job.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
The curious case of Tim Cook, operations genius, and the missing iMacs – February 4, 2013
Apple pulls ‘Genius’ ad series from its website, YouTube channel – August 22, 2012
Jony Ive would be no good at hosting events. He’s good on the videos because he knows what he’s talking about and it’s obviously prepared and they no doubt do them multiple times. This is not to say he couldn’t be move involved, but just replacing Cook with him wouldn’t make them any better overall.
Jony Ive would be excellent at hosting or participating in Apple media events as evidenced by the links MacDailyNews provided in their Take, one of which was a live performance in front of thousands of people.
Jony would be great introducing products. Check out his memorial speech for Steve Jobs.
MDN already linked to it in their Take, but thanks anyway.
Jony is a nice and passionate Apple employee because he really embraces the entire Apple existence. His design abilities and skills do not make him CEO material or Leading Visionary.
I remain iOS is the most important part of APPLE for now and SCOTT was the man. New products and enriching users lives embedding iOS was why APPLE COMPUTER became APPLE INC.
Steve practiced for hours and hours, often through the night. Every aspect of those events was carefully scripted and rehearsed multiple times and vetted through marketing and communications. While that helped Steve achieve what he was looking for it may be having a dulling effect on Tim’s performance.
I think Apple ought to recreate how they introduce product. The old way was Steve’s way and he’s not here to do it anymore. Force-fitting other personalities into that model has never really worked and often cost exceptional managers their jobs because they didn’t look good on stage.
Many companies are emulated Apples products, online stores and physical stores… they are even coping how Apple presentations look and feel.
YES — Time for change.
True… That is what this downturn is all about.
A ‘Hostle Takeover’ by the greedy hedge funds who are not happy with Tim Cook refusal to give them ALL of Apple’s cash. They want to unseat Steve’s hand picked man and put in instead a more ‘friendly’ CEO- one who will bend to their will.
We can’t let that happen!
Well, MDN, you’ve only reiterated what others have said: Tim should be more like Steve. Steve’s own words to Tim were to not be him, but be his own person. Steve chose Tim to run the company, so if Tim is a failure, this failure belongs as much to Steve.
Can you read? If so, try doing it before commenting. MDN gives Apple good advice. Cook would be smart to heed it.
Best MDN Take that I have read in a while – very reasonable. Cook’s job is to rejigger the management structure to make it healthier and more effective – to put the right people in the right places with the right responsibilities.
I support Cook, but this is one area in which I feel justified in criticizing him. Cook is sticking too close to the SJ formula for Apple and trying to be SJ’s replacement in important areas (such as keynoting product releases) for which he is not well-suited.
Apple can and must do better in marketing, product releases, and media control. Where is the old excitement that accompanied almost every Apple product release event (software or hardware)? And where are the commercials that made you think about being part of the Apple experience?
Isn’t Steve Ballmer a marketing guru?
No. Ballmer is an idiot who must have compromising photos of Bill Gates. It’s the only explanation left.
MDN is correct that Apple’s ads (TV, especially) have suffered since we lost Steve Jobs. Nobody can replace Steve Jobs singlehandedly. Lucky for Apple, they don’t have to. They can cover aspects of Steve’s genius with individuals, precisely as MDN suggests.
Here’s what’s wrong with MDN’s three things: They won’t do anything to move AAPL. Even if Tim did all three, AAPL remains a $300 stock. Eric Jackson is like everyone else who continues to defend Tim Cook – it’s wishful thinking. The hapless, clueless Mr. Cook IS THE PROBLEM. He must be replaced. Any other “solution” is a waste of time and resources that could be better used to launch a new era for the once great company.
Not only are you wrong, it’s quite likely that you’re mentally disabled.
Totally right on. PP is most likely a troll for samsung, or 12 years old, …. or both. /s
Magic solutions sound great but in this real world, they usually don’t work.
JAT
Here’s something for all those saying Cook should be replaced: SUGGEST SOMEONE.
I think Ive is a genius, but I doubt he has the skills or desire to run the company beyond the design side of things.
Who said fsck one about Jonathan Ive running the company?
Cook got rid of the one man who should lead Apple and what mainly is Apple today — iOS – and that man was SCOTT.
Even though I don’t know Tim Cook, so do most people and only top
top executives and people around him does, I’ve seen him on TV
interviews and heard/read him during earnings, conference call. Well, frankly my perceptions toward him as CEO isn’t that great.
Sorry, for me Tim Cook is just an A- or B+ CEO.
And for Jackson statement that if you don’t like Apple, sell your stock, Fu**Y** , I own AAPL even before Tim works there.
It’s amazing how all these $100 billion dollar company CEOs are willing to help Tim Cook fix his mistakes at Apple.
What? These helpers can’t even balance their family budget?
Let Tim fix his own problems. He has had more experience running a hundred-billion dollar company than anyone on earth, with the possible exception of the CEO of Exxon.
If Steve Jobs could communicate from beyond, it would be very similar to MacDailyNews’ “three things” Take.
B.S. Its not the show. Its not about recreating Steve’s personality. Its about the products! The vision. The drive to force the ideas into reality. The future is not found in the existing products. Changing the world for the better requires thinking big and risking it all.
No shit, Sherlock. Ive is the one who does this, he should be the one revealing them to the world. Tim Cook should concentrate on making the trains run on time.
NotBill strikes the nail on the head.
Apple’s position is difficult, since it has historically acted as the first-mover, relatively high-end manufacturer. And while hardware design and manufacturing standards haven’t slackened, Apple has lost its lead in some products performance/feature/innovation. What’s worse, Apple is not defending its iOS market share against the onslaught of knockoff competitors. Cook needs to use his pile o’ cash to start up the innovation engine again, roll out significantly improved software, and aggressively respond to cheaper competition. What the hell is he waiting for?
AND… Cook has said again and again… we have SOME amazing products in the pipeline. ITs going to be a great year for APPLE.
COOK said amazing NEW PRODUCTS but none have been RADICAL or mind BLOWING. He fails on his promises. Almost to the extent of misleading us all; a good reason why shareholders should be upset. Yet I have not lost FAITH in Apple.
iPhone 5, iMac, iPad mini and fusion drive are all wonderful upgraded products. REFRESHED not NEW. All have been engineering wonders…
not visionary. ALl have been Consistent and Safe.
iTV might save Apple fans, but its not here still.
iWatch is a silly venture… but we will see, my guess it will be a major Flop.
Cook FAILS because he is PLAYING it SAFE. Forcing Scott out was a major mistake as iOS is Apples future – but seen as a defensive move to protect his rein.
WHAT COOK NEEDED TO DO — WAS TO DESTROY ANDROID – FIRST.
Instead, Apple went after Samsung not Google. He himself admits he did not wish to sue Samsung… but fails to target the source – Googles Android. Doing so, would have changed the entire playing field.
– that would have forced Samsung to stop producing copied products mimicking Apples. It would have slowed down their profits and caused major damage on manufacturing and profits. It would have forced Samsung to seek a new OS. Instead, he has provided Samsung time and profits to make those changes.
– by not attacking Google to the end, tells us all that perhaps Google has done no wrong.
– and the failed court cases arising can appear that Samsung too has done no wrong also.
Patents seem worthless… the faith seems weak.
THATS WHAT COOK STILL NEEDS TO DO.
DEFEND iOS and APPLES IP and UI.
THE LAWYERS SEEM TO FAIL TO SEE that,
iOS and iPHONE together MADE the PRODUCT that Apple created. The phone is nothing without the software.
And vice-a-versa.
Google made Android look and feel like iOS… and then built onto the areas where it could differentiate it from iOS. This opportunity should never have been allowed or tolerated.
Pharmaceuticals have 5, 7 and 12 years protections for new innovations. Why not the tech-sector?
The Google Phone and its OS was nothing like the iPHONE until iPHONE came to market.
Android should look and function NOTHING like Apple.
Hence, Samsung design also would not look ANYTHING like APPLE too.
When Tim speaks off the cuff, as he did when answering questions at the shareholder meeting, he comes across much better than he does when giving a prepared talk.
There is a lot of chatter about Wall Street ® these days. Lineups of Analists ® , Hedge Hogs ® , Hit Whores ® and other Journanalists ® are all causing huge waves of descent and dissent for the yatch that Jobs built.
You don’t have that kind disturbance without calls for the heads of the Wall Street ® hydra but little good would that do, they would just grow back as fast as you can slice ‘em and besides that would not change they way they act.
Would they be more like a regular honest person? He he… ha ha…. haw haw ….. BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, come on, playing with all that money, other people’s money, you must be joking.
Would they be less innovative? There probably those of you that are ancient enough to remember when the stock market used to be a place to trade… buy and sell. These days with the introduction of complex algorithms used by Casinos, uh other fine institutions there is no way that Wall Street ® will diminish innovation.
Be less of a showman? Unlike companies that takes months or even years to show off a new product, Wall Street ® is down to several hours before a new release, thanks to the Phartindarwin drive that is so effecient it can blend not only the defense, the prosecution and the judge as well but also a demoncrat and a repubican into a tasty mouth watering dink. Just kidding….NOT.
Would they be more shareholder friendly? He he… ha ha…. haw haw ….. BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, come on, playing with all that money, other people’s money, you must be joking.
There you have it, Wall Street ® is doing a great job with your money, and even if it wasn’t the government will come and bail it out…with more of your money. That’s why Apple’s new device the WALL•E is a total waste of time. Expect the stock to continue to drop.
Hedge Hogs. I like it. Perfectly pithy name.
I believe in Tim (and all the rest of the Apple team). Steve picked him, so why should amyone challenge Steve on this decision? Give him time. Apple Inc will prove to be Steve’s greatest creation. Okay, so he is not a “talking head”, big deal. Critics also seem to forget that Steve himself was once fired from this job. _Illigitimi non carborundum._
in Chinese there is a concept called wu wei that means “doing nothing” it does not mean doing “nothing” in the sense of laziness but doing nothing in the sense of a farmer that has planted the seed and is waiting for the plant to grow. checking in the soil would kill the seedling and ruin everything . the literal translation is “the grass grows itself” i read a poem once that embodied the concept
“nothing could have cured him
but they tried penicillin “
So are you saying Tim Cook has planted some seeds and is doing nothing. Why the heck doesn’t he add some damn fertilizer, some water, incantations and rapid growth hormone like Jeff Bezos, Reed Hastings and Larry Page did? They managed to get instant growth to the blue sky while Apple’s seed has started growing towards the earth’s core. Life is fleeting and not everyone lives their life the pace of Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry.
The Manipulator: iPad 5 casings have already begun to leak in serious big redesign in the line. A stock drop could make sense.
How about these 3 changes instead:
CEO – Ive
CFO – Cook (yes a demotion but he was the best CFO ever)
Chairman of the board: Wozzie
..do this and AAPL is set for 700€ again this year and 1000€ next year.
Cook was COO, not CFO and Woz is quite likely brain damaged as a result of his plane crash, but otherwise, you’re a genius!
Yes I meant COO…so how about this then:
CEO – Ive
COO – Cook
Chairman – Buffett
Board member – Woz
Woz is no damagebrainer mon ami, he would have lot to give to the Apple image.
–> AAPL 1000€ 31.12.2013?
WOZ seems a traitor to me…
One More Thing (that needs to be fixed): Apple’s web presence is subpar. Maps: I sent a correction about the location of a major hospital (demolished old site, relocated to next city), and no change 2 months later, even though the satellite view shows an empty block! When I search the iTunes store, the App Store, or Apple Support, I typically get everything except what I’m looking for. If, for example, I put the same support search in Google, I get what I’m looking for On The Apple Support Site. The Podcasts app sucks. iTunes has not kept pace with the growth in importance. iCloud lacks imagination.
Shareholders know nothing? They know his self-serving brief to the Supreme Court endorsing taxpayer benefits for institutionalized sodomy is worth offending 50% of America! He needs to step down and have someone who keeps Apple out of godless Hollywood politics! Demonizing half of America may work for electing the worst president in history, but it doesn’t work in business! Apple embraces immoral sexual conduct and wants u, the taxpayer, to pay for it! No, Tim Cook is not doing fine! Not even close!
Wozziefan, u lost me at Buffet and Eoz. Buffet is a socialist assh*ole. Woz, well, dated Kathy Griffin! Ives and Cook I agree with if Cook can keep his gay politics to himself. He’s great as a silent COO. Ives has charisma and oozes creativity and intelligence!
and dating Kathy Griffin is bad because…?
@iMaki:
you should learn the difference between economic theory which has never actually been implemented in the real world and the practical guidance of one of the world’s foremost capitalists. To attempt to link the two is the height of absurdity.
Throw your hands in the air and wave ’em like you just don’t care. I’m just chalking this whole Apple collapse fiasco up as somebody upstairs doesn’t want to see me to get rich and enjoy myself. If Apple had reached $800 a share by now, in the spring I would have splurged on a late-model used Nissan 370Z and a Suzuki GSXR-1300 Hayabusa. But I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. If I’m soon to die, I’m going to wipe-out at high-speed with one of those vehicles. Tim Cook shattered my hopes and dreams and now I’ll have to merely give my ’74 Peugeot ten-speed a spring tune-up instead. Oh, well. The best laid plans of mice and men… with Apple, they’re sure to go astray.
All the rest of the top tech companies’ shareholders are all popping corks and dancing in the streets as the whole darn stock market blows away all-time highs. That is, excepting Apple. Apple shareholders only get to listen to Tim Cook telling them to have patience along with the background sound of a funeral dirge. G-dammit all to hell. I don’t care who the heck it is. Somebody has to pay for ruining my summer. Feel my wrath.
MDN i agree and don’t on takes. Apple is no place for Tim Cook. Ive probably, if he’s truly insane and passionate as promised. can he deliver? yes again (think i do). TC has helped the after Jobs drama times but now obsessed leader is the thing, the Flash letter, another one for Java would really welcome. Still in love with my Mac product btw 😉 (no one cares about marketing, operations and so on when u have passionate, obsessed , enthusiastic and visceral leaders).
The worst Apple stock crash actually happened under Steve Jobs, on September 29th, 2000. The stock price fell fifty percent in one day after Jobs announced Apple’s new strategy to pursue long-range goals. Wall Street hates long-range planning, they only care about quarterly results.
Who give a rat’s patootie about Tim’s stage presence? People buy the PRODUCTS, and they’re buying them in droves. Steve’s charisma was important in Apple’s dark days in keeping the hardcore fans onboard. But, AAPL’s price has nothing to do with stage presence, and the fact is that most of Apple’s new customers are not committed fans, just regular folks who care more about the products than the “vision”. As long as the rest of Apple’s creative and engineering teams keep innovating, product availability is Tim’s job #1. If you’re moaning about lack of charisma, you’re essentially validating the “Apple is a cult” meme.
It seems to me that Apple may be within the letter of the law but legally avoiding taxes is hardly ethical. And surely no one believes there will ever be a tax code that cannot be evaded by smart lawyers.
Will this cost Apple a lot of good will? And will this translate into a sizable hit on sales?
What can Apple do?
Interestingly, in the same issue of the New York Times that headlines the Apple article is an article mentioning that the government is cutting 20 billion from school lunches. How about Apple Lunches for school kids? Show that some of that money is going to nutrition for poor kids. Such a program would blunt some of the anger that may be coming at Apple and do some good.