January 14th, 2009
BREAKING: Jobs takes medical leave from Apple
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking a medical leave from the company until the end of June, telling employees in an e-mail that his health issues are more complex than he had thought, according to a notice posted a moment ago in the New York Times.
In the e-mail, which was sent after markets closed, Jobs said that curiosity over his personal health “continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well.”
Last week, just prior to Macworld San Francisco, Jobs announced he had a hormone deficiency that had caused him to dramatically lose weight.
Jobs said he had asked Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, to take on responsibility for Apple’s day-to-day operations. “As C.E.O., I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan,” Jobs reportedly said.
Full e-mail below via Silicon Alley Insider:
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
Thoughts?
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
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