Reports on Steve Jobs’ health crowded the media last month and culminated in Apple’s announcement of his six-month medical leave. The underlying theme of most reports: Apple, Inc. will be sunk if Steve leaves for good. What a difference a month makes.
A look at Apple Investor News’ “Steve Jobs” news aggregator shows a shift in media sentiment, with more stories focused on COO Tim Cook’s qualifications (he took over during Jobs’ 2004 cancer surgery leave) and even a few “Apple can do well without him” stories. While some analysts still complain it doesn’t have a solid succession plan, it’s clear to me Apple has a deep bench in its executive suite.
So has investor sentiment on the Steve issue shifted? I think so. Investors love certainty and (after Apple reversed itself several times) the leave announcement at least offered some near-term clarity and a pause in the rumor mill. I also think many investors are now anticipating his leave could be a permanent one. The blog post that put me in that camp was from Cult of Mac’s Leander Kahney, who wrote the best-seller “Inside Steve’s Brain.” Kahney speculates that Steve will not return and provides some compelling perspective as to why. Still, I hope he’s wrong. Get well, Steve.
