We all knew this day would come. We dreaded it. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, has decided to step down immediately. Steve Jobs is an American iconoclast and culture changer. He and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer in Jobs’ parents’ garagen in 1976.
It has been one wild ride, through the end of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, into the 21st century, from that big clunky Apple II to the sleek and sexy ipad and iphones. He became an arbiter of our tastes. He had vision. He saw things that we didn’t even know existed. He made us want things yet unseen.
Jobs has been ill. He has has a rare form of pancreatic cancer as well as a liver transplant. His health is very fragile and he announced he can no longer handle the job. He will serve as chairman of the board of directors of Apple. Jobs stated:
“I hereby resign as CEO of Apple,” he wrote. “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
The tech industry reacted violently over the Jobs’ abrupt resignation and Apple stock (aapl) dropped instantly, over $17 a share in overnight trading. The question now becomes whether or not Jobs is so integral to the company that his absence creates a weak link or has his genius set up a business paradigm that can weather his absence from the helm. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, expect some tech and industrial aftershock.
An authorized biography will come out in November.
For a brief, picture biography of Jobs’ career see USAToday.
Introduction to McIntosh in 1984. Jobs’ introduction of new products always became a world class event.
