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Tim Cook, who has taken over Steve Jobs' former role at Apple Mark Lennihan/AP/Press Association Images
Apple
How will Steve Jobs’ successor fare?
How will Tim Cook fare in his role as CEO of Apple? Technology insiders have been giving their views since he was named as Steve Jobs’ successor.
HOW WILL THE successor to Apple CEO Steve Jobs fare?
That’s the question on many business and technology analysts’ lips now that Tim Cook is poised to take over one of the most important jobs in the world.
Jobs announced he was retiring on Wednesday, with immediate effect. He began receiving treatment for cancer in 2004 and was on medical leave since January.
Digital Trend notes that Cook first stepped into Jobs’ shoes – temporarily – when the CEO took leave.
Since then, he has become an important part of Apple, leading up to him permanently taking on Job’s former role.
Former senior VP of Apple, Jay Elliott, told Digital Trends that Cook “has been superb with operations”.
He says that Cook is “calmer” than Jobs.
The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, says that the “real test” for Cook will come when he has to create his own triumphs rather than benefiting from his predecessor’s.
The San Francisco Chronicle, meanwhile, suggests that there is pressure on Cook to keep up with the standard of big ideas that Jobs came up with while CEO.
Brian X Chen, a freelance technology writer, tells the site that problems with Mac OS X Lion are proof that some elements of finesse may be affected.
The one thing that Cook can improve on is naming, says Business Insider, noting that “wonky grammar and syntax pops up around Jobs and Apple” – such as “Think Different”.
Though Cooks has reassured Apple employees that nothing is going to change, he will have to make his mark on the company to show exactly what he is capable of.
Time will tell whether than means bringing out a new, unanticipated product – an Apple TV has been mooted – or upgrading a classic.
And aside from his business acumen, others feel his personal life will see him wield even more power – Gawker has determined that that Cook will become “an icon for gay advancement”.
Though Cook has kept his sexuality private, Out magazine placed him at the top of their list of most powerful gay people.
But what does Jobs think of all of this? It was he who named Cook as his successor, and it looks like he has full confidence in the company’s new CEO:
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.
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