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Steve Jobs Takes Leave of Absence From Apple

Posted by timothy on from the get-well-soon dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Network World: "A number of sites are reporting that Apple's CEO Steve Jobs is taking a leave of absence till June at least. Speculation over Jobs' possibly failing health has run rampant in the past few weeks. Prior to the recent MacWorld show, Jobs said he had a hormone deficiency that had caused him to dramatically lose weight. In a memo today Jobs told workers his health issues are more complex than he thought." Reader Bastian227 adds a link to this letter from Steve Jobs on Apple's website, which also says that Tim Cook will be responsible for daily operations, though Jobs will remain involved with major strategic decisions.

7 of 429 comments (clear)

  1. Re:June... by johnsonav · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On a different note, this is a sad day for those owning AAPL shares - expect them to plunge even further than they have over the past year.

    Well, if you didn't see this coming a mile off, you probably shouldn't be in the market at all.

    --
    ... and that's when the C.H.U.D.'s came at me.
  2. Nothing To See Here, Move Along by gustar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Even with the prospect of Jobs having of an extended absence from the day-to-day at Apple I think we will see the company continue to do fine, or at least continue on their existing business path.

    While leadership is a key element of business success, so is having a well balanced team of professionals driving your development/innovation teams.

    I have to image Apple has this balance in their organization.

  3. Good luck, Mr. Jobs by AlpineR · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wish him well. As someone who had to retire at age 33 to fight cancer, I know how discouraging it is to have your body spoil what your brain wants to do. But I also found that giving up the full-time job really did improve my health and led to greater productivity in my remaining activities.

  4. Cancer sucks by groovyPost · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'll bet there will be no returning for Jobs. Sad news but a lesson to all. A company should never be about "A" person. None of us are eternal.

    1. Re:Cancer sucks by jalefkowit · · Score: 5, Insightful

      A company should never be about "A" person. None of us are eternal.

      Story goes that Charles de Gaulle, who was often referred to as France's "indispensable man" due to his huge influence in setting that nation's course after the Nazi conquest, was asked what he thought of that title.

      His response: "The graveyards are full of indispensable men."

      --

      Read my blog.

  5. As always, amatuers like you fail at stocks by GuloGulo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On a different note, this is a sad day for those owning AAPL shares - expect them to plunge even further than they have over the past year.

    No.

    If the company is sound, this will be a short term drop follwed by a recovery. If you own shares, and think AAPL is sound without Jobs, then selling makes no sense. Instead, you should be buying the discounted shares in anticipation of a recovery, which is what strong companies do.

    On the other hand, if you think AAPL is not strong without Jobs, then WTF were you doing buying AAPL in the first place?

    In short, you are making the same mistake all amateurs make.

    And no, I'm not a pro, but this point has been emphasized enough, and proven accurate enough, that I take it as correct.

    --
    "The government grants you rights, not the other way around."-- beav007. Yes, these people really exist...
  6. Re:Shoulda eaten more meat, Steve-o! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Even healthy living can kill you I guess.

    Eat more bacon, you won't live long. but at least you can have some bacon.