August 24, 2011: With his health worsening, a cancer-stricken Steve Jobs resigns from his role leading Apple. Tim Cook assumes the role of Apple’s seventh CEO.
“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,” Jobs writes in his retirement letter to the Apple board. “Unfortunately that day has come.”
Steve Jobs resigns from Apple CEO job due to health problems
Steve Jobs‘ resignation forced Apple to face the question that had haunted the company for years: Could its extraordinary run survive without the person who had become synonymous with the company itself? Jobs handed the CEO job to Tim Cook, the operations mastermind who had taken over much of Apple’s day-to-day running while Jobs battled cancer.
By August 2011, Jobs’ pancreatic cancer had worsened to the point where he knew there was little chance he would return to Apple as full-time CEO. He talked over the decision to resign with his wife and close confidantes like Cook and Apple design chief Jony Ive.
Rather than calling a special gathering of the Apple board, Jobs decided to resign from Apple at one of the company’s regularly scheduled meetings. Highlighting just how far his health had declined, Jobs needed a wheelchair to attend. Still, he insisted on showing up in person rather than participating via conference call.
A new role at Apple
After asking for all but Apple’s most senior board of directors to step outside, Jobs read the letter quoted above. He strongly recommended that the board appoint Cook as Apple’s new CEO. Jobs also said he looked forward to contributing to Apple in a new role: chairman of the board.
It wasn’t just an honorific title. Jobs increasingly moved away from the day-to-day running of Apple in his last few years, which is why Cook’s operations and supply-chain wizardry proved so useful. Jobs instead focused on “blue sky” thinking about new, cutting-edge research projects, as well as creative concepts like marketing.
Aside from reduced hours to fit around his health needs, that aspect of Jobs’ role would not change with the shift from CEO to chairman.
Tim Cook assumes control as new CEO of Apple after Steve Jobs resigns
Cook spoke a bit about Jobs’ role as chairman of the board in a Washington Post interview in 2016:
“When I first took the job as CEO, I actually thought that Steve would be here for a long time. Because he was going to be chairman, work a bit less after he came back up the health curve. So I went into it with one thought, and then weeks later — six weeks later, whatever … [he died],” Cook said. “I know this sounds probably bizarre at this point, but I had convinced myself that he would bounce, because he always did.”
In a statement on the day Steve Jobs resigned, Art Levinson, chairman of Genentech, praised Jobs on behalf of Apple’s board
“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” Levinson wrote. “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 … Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”
iPhone 4s: One of Steve Jobs’ last major projects
During his last official day before resigning as Apple’s CEO, Jobs was shown the iPhone 4s, which introduced the voice assistant known as Siri. This was one of the last major projects he would be involved with at Apple. Jobs died on October 5, 2011, less than two months after stepping down as Apple CEO.
What do you think was Steve Jobs’ most significant decision during his time as Apple CEO? Leave your comments below.
