SAN JOSE, Calif. — In one of the most curious vanishing acts in American corporate history, Apple CEO Steve Jobs remains on what is now the longest of his three medical leaves, popping up in public on the rare occasion, reportedly keeping an opaque remote control over major decisions but also promp
ting questions as Apple keeps its trademark veil of secrecy drawn tight over its iconic leader’s status.
It’s now been more than six months since Jobs, often considered not only the face but also the heart and soul of Apple, has been gone. Yet he’s not really gone at all, though by one account he’s less involved in micromanaging every aspect of the business.
With two major public outings to introduce the iPad 2 and iCloud, and cameo appearances at both a private Woodside, Calif., dinner with President Barack Obama and fellow tech titans and a Cupertino, Calif., City Council meeting last month to unveil plans for Apple’s new headquarters, Jobs slips tantalizingly in and out of public view.
And the markets don’t seem to care either way. Under the direction of Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, Apple stock has soared to record highs as its iPhone, iPad and other products enjoy spectacular success around the world.
“Apple’s dealing with this situation in their own unique manner,” said Joel Achramowicz, an analyst with Blaylock Robert Van. Cook “is the operating executive, but Steve Jobs is still involved. It’s an unconventional approach. With other companies, you might expect the board to require the CEO to take a true and complete leave of absence. Not here. But then, Apple’s just being Apple.”
When Jobs stepped away in January from day-to-day management, this third leave in the past decade came cloaked with far more intrigue than the previous breaks — a 2½-month leave in 2004 to undergo surgery for a rare form of pancreatic cancer and a 6-month leave in January 2009 for what turned out to be a liver transplant later that spring. Apple stock shares rose and fell accordingly, as if they were tied to the CEO’s prognosis.
This time, though, the leave was open-ended, begging questions about whether the man worshipped by legions of fanboys might not be coming back at all and what that might mean to Apple’s future. Jobs’ six-sentence letter to employees didn’t help clarify matters. Saying only that he would continue as CEO and “be involved in major strategic decisions for the company,” Jobs added, “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can.”
Asked about Jobs last week, Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said simply that “Steve is on medical leave, and as we have previously said, he continues to be involved in major strategic decisions.”
Six months after Jobs’ 2009 departure, a Memphis, Tenn., hospital confirmed he’d undergone a liver transplant. Now, with Jobs once again a half-year into a medical leave, speculation swirls. Even in his absence, the CEO seems to be around every corner — an unconfirmed sighting of Jobs at a Palo Alto, Calif., sushi spot last spring; tabloid photos outside the Stanford Cancer Center; an email to The Wall Street Journal from Jobs calling its report of CEO succession planning by Apple board members “hogwash.”
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