Should Tim Cook stop?

Rumors have it that Tim Cook will leave Apple early next year. Photo: Spyglass .

Apple’s board is stepping up its succession planning efforts as the company prepares for the possibility that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive as early as next year, according to the FT. He turned 65 two weeks ago and has led the company for 14 years.

By the standards of his generation in the US, Cook is still two years away from retirement. Many have questioned his leadership and his future tenure as Apple lags behind in AI technology. But the impact is not that big, at least in terms of costs.

The chatter quickly died down as Apple's stock rebounded on better-than-expected earnings. Tim Cook took Apple from an already high $350 billion to $4 trillion after succeeding Steve Jobs.

In fact, Tim Cook has been Apple’s CEO longer than anyone else. Steve Jobs’ tenure as CEO only began in 1997 and ended when he handed over the reins to Cook in 2011. And in recent years, Cook has implemented strategies that far exceeded what his predecessor had envisioned, especially in the Services segment.

In addition to its stock price returning to an all-time high, Apple’s market capitalization is now second only to NVIDIA, which will likely be reflected when the company reports its next quarterly earnings report in late January. After a tumultuous year with AI and tariffs, its stock has returned to levels that have lagged much of Big Tech over the past few years.

Tim Cook's departure at the beginning of the year will give the new leadership time to settle in before Apple's two big annual events in June and September. However, the company is said to be unlikely to announce a new CEO before its next financial report in late January.

The FT said that while preparations have been stepped up, the timing of the announcement could change. This could simply mean that Apple is preparing for Cook to make a decision if he wants to make the transition.

Cook has previously expressed his preference for an internal candidate to be his successor, saying the company has “very detailed succession plans.” “I love the company and I can’t imagine my life without it, so I’m going to be here for a long time,” he said on a podcast in November 2023.

Analyst MG Siegler believes Cook could step down as CEO but move to executive chairman, a position that plays a key role in domestic and international politics , especially with regard to Mr Trump.

According to John Gruber, a popular tech blogger, Apple has a lax retirement policy for board members, who typically step down when they reach 75. This means Cook could still be involved in the company's work for nearly a decade more if he wanted to.

Siegler believes Cook’s retirement will happen sooner or later, but the timing is key. He could wait to launch another product, particularly Smart Glasses, or ensure the immediate economic situation is stable, such as not having an AI bubble or market crash.

Source: https://znews.vn/tim-cook-co-nen-dung-lai-post1603499.html