Apple's CEO Steve Jobs Takes Leave Again, Citing Medical Conditions
posted Sunday Jan 23, 2011 by Nicholas DiMeo
This week, Steve Jobs announced that he will be taking an indefinite medical leave from the company for a third time since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003.
In 2004, Jobs left the company to undergo a difficult surgery that proved successful, which removed a tumor in his pancreas. This surgery is common for people with the same condition that Jobs has but the downside is that it removes part of the pancreas and digestive tract system. These removals can lead to other problems later on, like the weight loss that we were able to visually notice in 2008.
In 2009, Jobs left again, for what we later learned was a liver transplant procedure and that happened right before the last Macworld (no, really). This time, the announcement of the new iPad looms around the corner and the iPhone is headed to Verzion and Steve Jobs has to once again leave the reigns of the company to someone else in his absence.
For more on this news, follow the break.
The past two times he left, Jobs left the company's direction to COO Tim Cook and, while now having more responsibilities than in the past, will assume Jobs' role during this departure.
We have the email that Steve Jobs sent to the company explaining his leave.
At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple’s day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.
I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.
As crazy as the company Apple might be, we wish Steve Jobs the best and hope he makes a healthy and speedy return to the company.
