Steve Jobs renuncia a la administración de Apple

Los Ángeles - El hasta ahora consejero delegado de Apple, Steve Jobs, anunció hoy su dimisión al frente de la compañía en un comunicado.

En la declaración, Jobs indicó que querría continuar en la empresa que ha convertido en una de las más influyentes del planeta como presidente del Consejo de Administración y recomienda que Tim Cook le reemplace como consejero delegado.

"Siempre he dicho que si llegaba el día en el que no podría hacer frente a mis obligaciones al frente de Apple como consejero delegado, sería el primero en hacérselos saber", escribió Jobs en una carta dirigida a la junta directiva de la empresa y a la comunidad de Apple.

"Desafortunadamente, ese día ha llegado", añadió.

Jobs estuvo presente en la conferencia de apertura de WWDC 2011, en San Francisco. Ese acto supuso su segunda comparecencia pública desde que en enero se tomara una baja médica indefinida, motivos que aún se desconocen.

Jobs, quien superó un cáncer de páncreas en 2004 y que en 2009 fue sometido a un trasplante de hígado, ha continuado activo desde entonces en la toma de decisiones de la empresa.

Acudió a una reunión a puerta cerrada con el presidente estadounidense, Barack Obama, en febrero, y se encargó de presentar el iPad 2 en marzo.

"Creo que los días más brillantes e innovadores de Apple aún están por llegar", afirmó en la carta, añadió: "y espero seguir contemplando y contribuyendo a ese éxito desde una nueva posición".

En febrero fue fotografiado en la misma clínica donde recibió tratamiento por cáncer del páncreas el fallecido actor Patrick Swayze.

Jobs se tuvo que retirar durante varios meses a principios de 2009 para tratar lo que denominaron "desequilibrios hormonales", aunque luego se supo que se había sometido a un trasplante de hígado en abril de ese año en un hospital de Tennessee.

Comunicado emitido por Apple (en inglés):

Tim Cook Named CEO and Jobs Elected Chairman of the Board

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apple's Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple's Chief Operating Officer, as the company's new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

"Steve has made countless contributions to Apple's success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple's immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration."

"Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple's Board. "Steve has made countless contributions to Apple's success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple's immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration."

"The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO," added Levinson.
"Tim's 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does."

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company's worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple's supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple's Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Con información de EFE