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Apple's board discussing eventual Steve Jobs successor

by Chris Rawson Jul 19th 2011 at 4:25PM

According to The Wall Street Journal, some of Apple's board members have been informally discussing an eventual successor to Steve Jobs since the CEO began his latest medical leave earlier this year. These board members "have discussed CEO succession with executive recruiters and at least one head of a high-profile technology company," though the Journal says they're not actively engaged in recruiting a new CEO.

The Journal notes that not all board members have been involved in the discussion (obviously Jobs himself wouldn't have been), and it also says management succession plans are discussed at every board meeting, though such plans are "sworn to secrecy."

Steve Jobs reportedly responded to the report via email, saying "I think it's hogwash." Either this means the Journal's report is inaccurate in some way, or Jobs may have been kept out of the loop on the discussions. For his part, Jobs has given no indication that he will step down anytime soon, though many financial analysts have grown increasingly skittish following the CEO's ongoing (and over-publicized) medical issues and Apple's intense privacy surrounding the succession plan.



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According to The Wall Street Journal, some of Apple's board members have been informally discussing an eventual successor to Steve Jobs...
 

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Ella Carey

Unemployment in construction is 21.2%, I wish these guys would tell the truth. We all need to education ourself in this tough market only way is a degree or change your career.. search online for "High Speed University" for career advice

July 20 2011 at 5:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
juan

tim cook

July 20 2011 at 2:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jack

Oh that's just great! "Some of Apple's board members have been informally discussing an eventual successor." So brilliant minds like Bill Campbell and Al Gore are going to go out and find a successor. Shouldn't be any problem there.

July 19 2011 at 6:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buzz Mega

Steve Jobs is an unusual item. The stories of Woz thinking about "returning" should not be confused with "...and that means everything will be fine." Jobs has people skills, art skills, creative skills and sensibilities that are extreeeeeeeemely rare. I've met and observed Woz up close. He is very perceptive in a completely different way. And he has had two decades of having fun under his belt most recently. Not at all the Jobs skillset. Still, he would lend an air of credibility.

I'm hoping that Steve decides that beef jerky is good, after all. Put some meat on. Live long. Prosper.

July 19 2011 at 5:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
johnmanchari

steve jobs will be apple ceo for a lot longer. when he is done i predict he will become President of the USA for 8 years. then, once he decides that's long enough, he will go on to become the President of the United Nations for a bunch of years.

he will end hunger and disease very easily

July 19 2011 at 5:21 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
D U F F

Jonathan Ive maybe? He's the true brains and innovator behind all Apples product design and doesn't get near enough credit imo.

July 19 2011 at 4:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to D U F F's comment
Shannon Doherty

Ive is actually the most engaging and charismatic of the bunch, after Jobs himself. But, as CEO, you need more. Just anyone but cottonmouth Schiller, bug-eyed Forstall, manbeast Mansfield or yawn-fest Cook

July 19 2011 at 5:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Binja

Seconded. He is the ONLY man for the job. Watch any of the product introduction videos that feature him heavily(the iPad ones come to mind). His reality distortion field is stronger than that of The Steve. It's all about passion and charisma. Us Apple nerds believe that The Steve is an all knowing dictattorial genius with his finger on the pulse of all things Apple. I believe the reality is that he is much more a salesman than anything else. He is lucky enough to have very talented people under him, but if he were really as tyrannical as we believe him to be, his companies creativity would be stifled to the point of failure.

July 19 2011 at 5:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Robert L.

Any corporation would be foolish not to have informal discussions in a similar situation. I don't want Jobs to go but given the last year of medical history you would have to have some sort of idea where you are going. It is called smart responsible business.

July 19 2011 at 4:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leonick

"though the Journal says they're not actively engaged in recruiting a new CEO."

And the shouldn't! If anything they should be looking inside the company for someone who has been with the for quite while, we don't need you to hire another soda company CEO :p

July 19 2011 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Leonick's comment
Headset Chatter

Agreed. I think Apple has done a good job since Steve's health issues in bringing other members of the team to the forefront during Keynotes. I assumed this was to get the public more accustomed to the other faces and personalities behind Apple's products. For a company who's identity with the public is so focused on the CEO, it seems like a bad move to replace someone so popular with a total stranger to the company.

July 19 2011 at 5:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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