Is Steve Jobs About to Get Replaced? [Rumor]

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Steve_jobs_WWDC_2011_1

It’s no secret that Steve Jobs has been the heart and soul of Apple for many years. He brought us many of Apple’s most successful products, including the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

In light of Jobs’ ongoing medical leave of absence, Apple’s executive board is informally considering replacing Steve Jobs with a new CEO for the company.

The Wall Street Journal dropped this news before Apple’s earnings call later today:

“Since Steve Jobs went on medical leave this winter, some members of Apple Inc.’s board have discussed CEO succession with executive recruiters and at least one head of a high-profile technology company, according to people familiar with the matter.

The conversations weren’t explicitly aimed at recruiting a new chief executive and were more of an informal exploration of the company’s options, said these people. The directors don’t appear to have been acting on behalf of the full board, some of these people said. Apple has seven directors, including Mr. Jobs.”

According to the WSJ, a succession plan for Jobs has been contemplated at Apple for quite some time:

“Apple’s independent directors take succession planning seriously, said a person familiar with the board’s thinking. This person said Apple’s independent board members discuss management succession in private sessions without Mr. Jobs held at every board meeting for the past 12 years.

“It’s best practice,” this person noted. “Everybody in the room is sworn to secrecy as to what it [the succession] plan is.”

It makes sense that the first candidate for his succession would be Apple’s chief operating officer, Tim Cook.

Jobs has always been incredibly passionate about Apple, and it’s very difficult to image what the company would look like without him.

How does this news make you feel? Do you think Apple will have the guts to actually replace Jobs?

[via MacRumors]

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