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Apple chief Jobs takes extended leave for 'complex health issues'
Ed Harris15 Jan 2009
APPLE boss Steve Jobs is to take medical leave until the end of June as it emerged his health problems were more complex than first thought.
He revealed last week he was being treated for a "hormone imbalance robbing me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy" but had said he was staying on as the firm's head.
Today's announcement sent the company's shares down as much as 10 per cent.
The Apple co-founder and CEO was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, and has appeared increasingly gaunt at recent public appearances.
Last month Apple said Mr Jobs, 53, would not be making his annual keynote address at the Macworld conference in San Francisco. In an email to staff yesterday, he said: "I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June. I have learned my health-related issues are more complex than originally thought. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions."
Apple's board said it was giving Mr Jobs "unwavering support" and chief operating officer Tim Cook will stand in.
Mr Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976, left in 1985, and returned in 1997 to become CEO in 2000. Some analysts fear that without a major product launch, such as last year's iPhone 3G, Apple will lack a motivating force for its shares this year.
Reader views (3)
Whether he likes it or not Mr J is a public figure and his position is such that continuing uninformed speculation can only continue to damage Apple, a company with which he is inextricably connected. Better to get a full statement out as to his health problems. Although health issues are, I would agree, a private matter there are exceptions and this is one of them.
- Jeffrey Bailey, Doha, Qatar, 16/01/2009 05:26
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Let us all hope that the media leaves this man alone - he needs some peace for a while. I hope that he gets better and I wish him all the very best.
Liz Taylor
- Elizabeth Taylor, dallas tx, 15/01/2009 17:02
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he is ill and that is enough. leave the guy to sort his life out.
- Liberal Thinker, UK, 15/01/2009 15:19
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