Newly minted Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out a letter to Apple employees last week reassuring them that Apple is not going to change under his command.
With Steve Jobs out as CEO and former COO Tim Cook now in charge, Apple fans and pundits have naturally been asking if Cook has what it takes to lead Apple. While the question is fair, it’s important to remember that Cook has largely been Apple’s acting CEO for months now and has helped lead the company through tough economic cycles. Notably, some of Apple’s most profitable quarters in company history were recorded while Cook was at the helm and Jobs was off on medical leave.
Still, there’s no denying that Apple’s success over the past 12+ years has largely been a function of the culture that Jobs helped instill in the company when he first returned when Apple acquired NeXT in late 1996. That said, Tim Cook, in one of his first actions as Apple CEO, sent an email to every Apple employee assuring them that Apple under his watch would be no different than it was under the reign of Jobs.
The letter reads as follows:
Team:
I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.
Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.
I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.
I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is.
Tim
