Sad News for Apple
Steve Jobs has resigned as CEO of the company. His resignation 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
As a satisfied Apple customer and user of two iMacs, an iPhone, an iPod, and an iPod shuffle, I salute Mr. Jobs for his excellent leadership at one of America's best companies.
To end on a bright note, I leave you with Steve Jobs's inspiring 2005 Stanford Commencement Address.
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Aug '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
I remember when Steve Jobs first came back to Apple in the late 90s. When he returned, he killed the short-lived licensing program which, at the time, was allowing companies like Motorola to produce Macintosh "clones." As a proud owner of one of these clones (a far speedier machine than the ones Apple was producing) I was rather upset and expected the death of Apple to come quickly.
When the iMac appeared, we mocked its lack of a floppy drive.
But . . . three years later I had my own. A few years after that, I had my second. I am now on my third, and my wife uses a PowerBook. My current place of employment switched over entirely to Macintosh about 18 months ago.
All this to say, I was wrong about Apple.
Mr. Jobs, thank you for the iMac.
Edited on Aug 24, 2011 at 4:16pmMar '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
So far the consensus seems to be that's AAPL to the woodshed on tommorrow's opening. Despite the cult of personality fostered around him though, and not detracting from his incredible efforts, I can't help but feel the company has progressed far enough on it's current path that their success shall continue.
Re: Sad News for Apple
This is a sad commentary on the passing of time. I presume that personal health is the obstacle to Steve Jobs' continuing.
If I could identify the next Steven Jobs, I would become a very rich man.
May '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
I bought their stock at 13 and sold at 29. What a fool I was.
Jul '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
When Steve Jobs returned as CEO, I put in my resumé and enjoyed a stint there while the company was at its lowest ebb. There was never panic, there were always high standards, and it was the most brilliant group of people I ever worked with. I am still friends with many of them.
I have seen Steve address the developer community live and there is no more charismatic, nor achingly brilliant, figure in America's executive boardrooms. If this had happened 7 or 8 years ago, I might be concerned for Apple. Today, though, the principles and imprint are firm.
Well done, sir!
Nov '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
Not hard to read between those lines. Vaya con Dios, Steve.
Nov '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
One of the truly greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Jul '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
As a proud owner of 12 Macs (over the years), 3 iPods, 3 iPhones and briefly an iPad, the value of this man's genius and vision cannot be overstated. I will pray for his health and well being. Thank you Steve!
Apr '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
I'm not an Apple man, myself, though I just traded my hp TouchPad for an iPad2 (completely different business story there). I have to admit, Jobs has definitely made a huge footprint in the world. Growing up, I remember seeing my elementary school getting its first Apple II+. Now, computers are everywhere, and Apple gave us a way to carry a computer lighter than the text books I had in said same school.
Thanks for the hard work and brilliance, Mr. Jobs!
Jun '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
I have no shame in saying that Steve Jobs is a heroic figure to me despite the oft-repeated tales of his tyrannical behavior. I think more than just the amazingly elegant and powerful products that came into the market because of his unyielding insistence on perfection and simplicity is that Jobs probably more than any other entrepreneur or businessman since Henry Ford or Thomas Edison has profoundly changed the lives of millions around the planet. He did this by providing a tool that enabled people to do so much on their own including starting and running their own businesses like I had the opportunity to do in the late 80's because of the Macintosh. The Mac and the software that ran on it transformed entire industries and has created untold wealth for people who used this powerful tool to create and to amaze. Anyone who knows the history of Apple knows that the Macintosh project would have never happened had it not been for Jobs who pushed, cajoled and drove everyone frustratingly mad to make it happen...and of course there's also Pixar.
Millions are forever in his debt and I wish him and his family well.
Jul '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
I believe he has a slow growing but incurable neuro-endocrine pancreatic cancer. I am curious how long he will continue to beat the odds.
Oct '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
My tenure at Apple is among the proudest times of my life. I can only regret that it was before Steve Jobs' return.
Brian, "there's also Pixar" indeed. Not enough people know how close Pixar came to ceasing to exist, and how it was nothing other than Steve Jobs writing a lot of checks with a lot of 0's in them that kept them afloat until they could turn themselves around. If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend The Pixar Story, which, like so many of Pixar's stories, is simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting.
Mar '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
It is sad that he's leaving as CEO but it's great that he's staying on as chairman. Considering that he built it, was sacked at a peak, and what asked to come back when the company was at its nadir and from there made it into the largest firm in its sector and perhaps the world (clocking Microsoft, Intel, Dell, HP et al), he's leaving at the current zenith. I hope this isn't actually a health issue and he's just making sure the succession plan works correctly while he can still fix it if required.
Edited on Aug 24, 2011 at 6:01pmMar '11
Re: Sad News for Apple
@DocJay Don't diagnose over the phone... :-)
Nov '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
Well said!
Jul '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
What put 'em on the map: 1984
Re: Sad News for Apple
This is sad news, but in a way inspiring. Steve Jobs -- despite his lefty leftyness -- is a great American entrepreneur, a symbol of what a free-market economy that rewards innovation, risk, and a fanatical drive for perfection can come up with.
Where's the next Steve Jobs? Let's hope somewhere inventing something, and not spending time worrying about being fully compliant with the small business regulations of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act.
Edited on Aug 24, 2011 at 6:32pmNov '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
What is it that inspires the Great Ones- Gates, Buffett, Jobs, Zuckerberg- to support the political left? Is it a "fashion statement?"
Re: Sad News for Apple
Elizabeth Dunn
What is it that inspires the Great Ones- Gates, Buffett, Jobs, Zuckerberg- to support the political left? Is it a "fashion statement?" · Aug 24 at 6:16pm
Yes, it is a bit pathetic. But they all want to be "with it." Perhaps Barack Obama's legacy will to have changed the definition of cool.
Jun '10
Re: Sad News for Apple
Rob Long: This is sad news, but in a way inspiring. Steve Jobs -- despite his lefty lefyness -- is a great American entrepreneur, a symbol of what a free-market economy that rewards innovation, risk, and a fanatical drive for perfection can come up with.
Where's the next Steve Jobs? Let's hope somewhere inventing something, and not spending time worrying about being fully compliant with the small business regulations of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. · Aug 24 at 5:55pm
What's interesting, Rob, is that Jobs never made his politics a big issue. Sure he would occasionally make reference to some left-of-center publication or media outlet and a sly grin would come across his face but ultimately the businessman in him held his politics at bay. He did appoint Al Gore to Apple's board but Gore hasn't been terribly vocal or steered Apple to any of his pet projects. Jobs has also been wise enough not to overly influence the successful corporate culture or vision of Disney where he is the largest shareholder...one can, after all still get french fries at Disneyland and isn't forced to go vegan.
Edited on Aug 24, 2011 at 6:26pm