Jobs Taking Medical Leave Until June
1:59 pm, January 14th, 2009, Lonnie Lazar
Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced he will take a medical leave of absence until June in an email letter sent Wednesday to all Apple employees.
Citing continued distractions stemming from curiosity over his personal health that have affected him, his family and “everyone else at Apple,” Jobs admitted his health issues are “more complex than [he] originally thought” and has asked Tim Cook, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations until Jobs’ intended return to the company in June.
Jobs said that he plans to remain involved in major strategic decisions while he is away and said the company’s board of directors fully supports this plan.
The full text of Jobs’ email is after the jump.
Team,
I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.
In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.
I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.
Steve
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in News | Comment on this article
This sounds like a delaying tactic to give Steve a few months to get everything in place and to ease shareholder’s fears before he makes his final exit. It’s going to be very sad, but we should start preparing ourselves for a post-Steve world.
Eye, on January 14th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Well said, Eye.
He’s obviously dying & He’s doing what he can to make sure APPL doesn’t tank *and* fans aren’t worried about the post-Steve Apple.
CaryMG, on January 15th, 2009 at 1:43 am
CaryMG, you’ve obviously a heartless bastard.
Radu, on January 16th, 2009 at 10:38 am