Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave Of Absence

Steve Jobs has been granted a medical leave of absence by Apple's board of directors.

According to the Wall Street Journal, COO Tim Cook will run day to day operations for the company.

Jobs wrote the following note to Apple employees:

Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve

Jobs has struggled with health issues in recent years and the news that he will be taking a leave of absence comes a year and a half after the chief executive received a liver transplant.

In 2004, Jobs announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and, that same year, underwent surgery to remove the cancer. He took a medical leave of absence between January and June 2009, with Cook taking over responsibilities for day to day operations. He received a liver transplant in 2009.

When asked about his health at an Apple press conference in July, Jobs replied he was "doing fine" and "feeling great." Yet others have expressed concerns about the CEO's health. The New York Times writes, "In recent months, Mr. Jobs has looked increasingly frail, according to people know have seen him." The lack of a precise end date on Jobs' leave of absence is troubling to some, suggesting the CEO's health issues could be complex and more long term.

Cook, not Jobs, took the stage at a recent press conference in New York at which Verizon announced that it would begin carrying Apple's iPhone. Jobs is expected to appear with News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch to unveil the media mogul's new iPad newspaper, The Daily.

Read more about Tim Cook here.

Comments

[ethiopia1a]

08:42 AM on 01/19/2011

he`s so skinny like his i-phone lol

[Infonary NewsWebsite]

07:06 AM on 01/19/2011

Jobs could be suffering side effects from immune-suppressing medicines to prevent organ rejection. Even if his cancer has recurred, there are many treatment options, including chemotherapy and newer drugs that target various cancer pathways.

http://www.infonary.com/steve-jobs

[FreedToChoose]

12:46 AM on 01/19/2011

Good move. The same intelligence which has made Apple such a success has been engaged to give its possessor an opportunity to remain as healthy as possible. As a cancer survivor myself (fifteen years since my last chemo) I know how hard it can be to cut back at work in order to heal, but it's worth it.

All the best Steve Jobs.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

07:17 PM on 01/18/2011

I hope it's not the pancreas thing back again............ the long range recovery success rate for this kind of thing is like 2 to 4%........... GOOD LUCK STEVE.

[Seral]

05:06 PM on 01/18/2011

Jobs literally looks like he is melting...It is really amazing of him to have actually endured the stress of his work for so long. I hope he can come back soon in a more healthy looking and feeling state.

[vrndavan]

11:39 AM on 01/18/2011

I wish him well.

It's a sad thing that his health issues have to be so public. Perhaps a leave of absence is the best thing for him; that way he doesn't have gazillion people asking him about his health.

[fumes]

08:06 AM on 01/18/2011

fingers crossed for steve..

he looks like he could use the munchies.

[don]

06:46 AM on 01/18/2011

I hope they approve his FMLA. It would sure be a shame if he got fired for being sick.

[pissdoffinohio]

06:16 AM on 01/18/2011

Prayrs and hope for Jobs and famly for healing and recovry

[ResearchtheFacts]

04:17 AM on 01/18/2011

Apple stock down 8% in Frankfurt because of Jobs sick leave.  Geez, I'm no fan but give the guy a break.  Just because he may not be physically able to attend meetings he can still input intellectually. Capitalism is brutal.  The minute you are physically down they count you out.  He did build his company on his mental capacity.

[Sol76]

03:55 AM on 01/18/2011

I have a bad feeling about this. Given how it can affect Apple's stock-price, Steve Jobs would not take a lave of absence if his health was not in serious jeopardy. As a life-long Apple fan I can only hope that the man will see 2012.

[lovbug]

12:57 AM on 01/18/2011

I wish him well. But, he needs to quit that job and focus on his health and well being. Stress can speed up your illnesses...it's not worth it!

[pedernales]

11:53 PM on 01/17/2011

I hope he feels better soon. That said, since Steve Jobs - like so many of our global corporte elites who enjoy using the United States as his personal fortress and playground - might consider hiring a few American workers to shine his shoes.

[k-ram]

11:34 PM on 01/17/2011

PLEASE, PLEASE stop saying that Mr. Jobs had "pancreatic cancer." He had a neuroendocrine cell tumor which has a very different treatment and prognosis.
http://bit.ly/fXqrXe
It is very misleading to both the public and Apple shareholders to propagate this erroneous diagnosis.

[Johnson Schwanz]

11:12 PM on 01/17/2011

I hope Mr. Jobs hits the gas pedal hard on the road to recovery.

I'm pretty sure that Apple is not a day-to-day company. They'll be OK for 2011. But beyond?