Apple with Steve Jobs is certainly a LOT different than Apple without Jobs. Today the news struck that the iconic Apple CEO, Steve Jobs has resigned. He is replaced by a now fairly well known name, Tim Cook. Tim has been with Apple for 13 years and has previously worked with IBM and Compaq. While Jobs has ‘strong recombination’ for Cook, lets look at the top 5 challenges for Apple wrt todays news:
- Transition: When Gates resigned from Microsoft, it was planned, communicated and neatly executed. There was a 2yr transition period and a press conference to announce the departure. Apple hasn’t had 2 years, but have been preparing for this day every since Steve started facing health issues again. Did they have enough time for the ‘transition?’
- Volatility: The announcement of Jobs departure is almost as sudden / surprise as an iPhone launch. It comes without any warning, any major rumors and takes the whole world by surprise. Can Apple hold on while the over load of ‘No Steve Jobs’ analysis happens? Can Tim Cook have those nerves of steel? Will the unfavorable stock market treatment be too bad? It boils down to one question: Is this the right way to announce such a major news?
- Boom, Without Jobs: Apple’s public image is linked to Jobs. Jobs is iconic, has a large following, widely respected and considered a wizard. Many believe that Apple products sell because he holds them high. Steve Jobs = Apple. Can Apple prove that they are equally good without Jobs doing the ‘Boom’ and ‘One more thing?’
- Inventions: Steve Jobs is listed as an inventor of the Apple iPhone. He certainly is a chief innovator at Apple. Will Apple still invent great products? Ideas? Hard to say, but they would surely miss Steve.
- The Entrepreneur: Steve is the co-founder of this company. An aggressive man, who made things happen. His personal traits as an entrepreneur have seen Apple progress over the last 15 years. Does the team that he leaves behind have such an entrepreneurial aggression?
While I do believe that Apple has a good succession plan and things are very much normal from the inside. We can’t deny the fact that pressure from what is being spoken outside Apple mounts on Cupertino. We cannot ignore the Wall Street affect. Stocks is real value, sentiments in the stock market sells and Apple has to deal with that. I am sad to see Steve depart as CEO, but excited to see whats next. All the best Apple !