The decision by CEO Steve Jobs to bypass a keynote speech in favor of marketing head Phil Schiller, sends “a clear message that a leadership shift is underway,” Munster wrote in a note.
This isn’t the first time onlookers have attempted to read Apple’s intentions through trade show speaker selection. In October, the inclusion of Schiller and Tim Cook prompted questions of a potential exit by Jobs.
While Munster described Jobs as “the irreplaceable face of Apple,” the Cupertino, Calif. company has entered the “early stages of changing roles in Apple management.”
Jobs, while an important piece of Apple’s revitalization, didn’t accomplish it solo. Munster said Apple management was key to new product success.
After the announcement that Jobs won’t appear at Macworld, the analyst judged the possibility of any Earth-shattering product releases – such as a new iPhone – as “less likely.”
Wednesday, Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner downgraded shares to “perform” from “outperform” after telling clients Apple’s lack of an apparent succession plan “underscored the greatest risk to Apple’s long-term success.”
4 responses to “Munster: Macworld Exit Hints At Apple ‘Leadership Shift’”
Perhaps Apple doesn’t have any big announcement this time. Remember the crap they had to put up with when Jobs put on the shoe for what was seen as just a bunch of updates earlier this year? That leads me to think we’ll have no big announcements at Macworld, maybe nothing more than an updated Pro.
Saving Jobs for big announcements will increase their impact and tamp down expectations for non-Steve keynotes. And it also “auditions” new leadership.
Macworld is a terrible time for product announcement anyway. Wait until spring or back to school in the fall or right before christmas. Apple is much larger than Macworld. I applaud this decision from the greatest innovative design company currently on the planet.
They have something up their sleeves. It will be fun to watch it unfold over the next few months.