Tim Cook launches the Verizon iPhone to begin with this year . With the surrender of Steve Jobs as CEO on Wednesday , Tim Cook , long seen as “ the operations guy ” at Apple , must prove he is capable of take full charge of the caller .
Cook was regard by some as a instinctive successor to Jobs . In his function as chief operating officeholder , he managed Apple ’s worldwide sale and operation , include direction of its supply range , table service and accompaniment .
Perhaps more significantly , Cook hasalready had experiencerunning Apple ’s day - to - day operationsduring Jobs ’ leaves of absence , include the stop from January to the present . But there are questions about his ability to keep on the spirit of innovation embody by Jobs , whose headstrong management style animate workers , and whose visual modality prevent the companionship ahead of market trend .
Tim Cook launches the Verizon iPhone earlier this year.
“ Steve Jobs has always been the illusionist at Apple , and Tim Cook is the surgical operation guy cable , and he ’s good . The problem may descend in a couple of years when the company has to see thing that ca n’t be see today , ” said Roger Kay , chairwoman of Endpoint Technologies Associates .
For certain , Jobs will persist at Apple as chairwoman , at least for now , and will be need in intention and product decision as best he can . “ job will continue as chairman of [ the ] board , so you are talking about a guy who will proceed to have influence on Apple ’s products … for years to add up , ” said Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg .
But the country of Jobs ’ health is ill-defined , and in his letter to employee Wednesday he hint his role will be lessen in the future . “ I have always say if there ever come up 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 . unluckily , that day has number , ” he wrote in the letter .
Jobs ’ core strength is in see markets just before they happen , as he did with tab , and he may have project a long product pipeline for Apple to help it succeed , Kay noted . And Cook was clearly his first option for chief operating officer . He “ strongly advocate ” to the dining table that it appoint him to the position , he say in his varsity letter .
Apple is in a near - unassailable position in tablets and a hard position in smartphones , and Cook would have to make big mistakes for the company to stammer any time soon , which he is improbable to do , analysts said .
There is also more to Apple than Jobs , including great invention and selling teams that have helped Apple launch its successful products , enunciate Gartenberg . He point as an example to Jonathan I ve , elderly frailty president for industrial design , who was the originative force behind the iPhone , iPad and iPod .
As COO , Cook also point Apple ’s Mac division and revamped the company ’s retail stage business by establishing its Apple store . Prior to unite Apple in 1998 , he was vice Chief Executive of corporate fabric at Compaq , where he grapple inventory and handled material procurement .
Cook may not fit Jobs in creative power , Gartenberg said , but he is the best person to bring all the elements of Apple together .
“ You need someone at the helm who is going to continue operations , ” he suppose .
[ Robert McMillan in San Francisco contributed to this news report . ]
