Jobs keeps grip on Apple
2009-04-11 08:19
Washington - More than three months
into a medical leave from Apple Inc, Chief Executive Steve Jobs
remains closely involved in key aspects of running the company,
the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people
familiar with the matter.
Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook runs the day-to-day
operations, but Jobs has continued to work on the company's
most important strategies and products from home, the newspaper
said in a story on its website.
He regularly reviews products and product plans, and was
particularly involved in the user interface of the new iPhone
operating system that Apple unveiled last month, the Journal
said.
Jobs, an Apple co-founder who is considered the company's
creative leader, is also involved in the development of future
projects, the paper said, citing people with knowledge of the
company's strategy.
Jobs, 54, who was treated in 2004 for a rare form of
pancreatic cancer, took a medical leave in early January,
saying he would return in June and would remain involved in
"major strategic decisions while I am out".
But he has made no public appearances or statements since
then, and it has been unclear just how involved he continued to
be, the Journal said.
Jobs didn't respond to requests for comment, the paper
said. Apple spokeperson Steve Dowling told the Journal: "Steve
continues to look forward to returning to Apple at the end of
June."
Apple stock has suffered since last summer on speculation
about his condition.