Breaking news! Steve Jobs has resigned as CEO of Apple. In his letter of resignation, which has just been released publicly, he stated that he could no longer meet his “duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.” He then asks the company’s Board of Directors to employ him instead as Chairman of the Board, if they want to.“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,” he stated in the letter.
Jobs has been battling with pancreatic cancer since the last decade, which endured him through numerous treatments including a liver transplant in 2009. In January this year, he took his third medical leave of absence. He then made a surprise appearance last March to introduce the iPad 2. Jobs was last seen in public last June, when he presented the iCloud, Apple’s new online storage and syncing service.
As a replacement, Jobs strongly recommends Apple’s COO Tim Cook in his letter, which the Board has obliged minutes after Job’s resignation. The move was an expected one, considering Cook has filled in for Jobs during his medical leaves. Jobs has also been elected as Chairman of the Board, with Cook joining in as member of the Board.
Prior to his entry in Apple, Cook was vice president of Corporate Materials for Compaq and was responsible for the procurement and management of all the company’s product inventory. Before his work in Compaq, Cook also worked as COO of Intelligent Electronic’s reseller division and as director of North American Fulfillment for IBM.
From all of us here on Gadget.com, we wish Steve Jobs well.