Much has been written about Tim Cook since being appointed to his position as CEO of Apple last year. Directly or indirectly in any article, research, interview, or opinion comparison to Steve Jobs became inevitable.
Although it is well known that no matter who was replacing him, there is no one like Steve Jobs. He cannot be replaced. He was a genius, one of kind, unique in so many ways that this article could not have describe without filling dozens of pages of the man and his work.
But this article is not about Steve. This article is designed to answer one simple question: Is Tim Cook leader? And more importantly, whether Tim Cook is the right leader to Apple?
To answer this important question, I would like to review the main challenges that Apple under the leadership of Tim had to cope with since taking office.
On the outstanding successes (detractors would say … success cycle) we’ll include a long list of products that Apple launched last year and actually renewed almost its entire product line (except the Mac Pro): iPhone 5, iPod, MacBook pro with retina screens, iMac, iPad (upgraded twice) and even added the successful iPad Mini product line. Beyond products launched, Apple won its long battle against Samsung in highly publicized and it’s most significant and forced Samsung to pay for patent violations committed over a billion dollars, recently dropped by nearly half due to Samsung’s appeal.
On the biggest failures we’ll include the famous maps saga (and slightly exaggerated in my opinion) launched with the updated iOS 6 version, a drop in the company’s stock, not inventing a new category and innovative with a revolutionary product in the past year, and the expectations of investors at a profit and market share of Apple in the mobile market.
Yes. You read that right. Failure to comply with Apple’s Tim Cook led the expectations of investors and analysts at a profit and market share of Apple in the mobile market.
Since when expectations of investors and analysts determine the degree of success of the company? Moreover, the general who ruled that Apple strives to be a leader in terms of market share?
No one.
But when it comes to Apple, apparently the rules of the game are different and we better “educate” the bad boy in the neighborhood who aligns expectations of analysts and does not play by the rules of the other children.
Now, imagine I tell you about a company that earned more than any company in the world, which is in a highly competitive market, and could collect on its products than any other company in the field due to the value it creates for its customers. A breaking every record possible sales of its products last year, and its future within the market in which it competes looks promising than ever, and is expected to be the most dominant in its field for at least the next five years.
What would you say on who leads it?
I would say over that whoever is there, is a leader.
But not just because of the numbers, profits and great success. But rather because Tim Cook cope with harsh criticism leveled at him, and to the company that is an unprecedented amount of the business press in recent years. Precisely because the man chooses to go his way, quiet and relaxed, leading his company safely to the vision and values Steve Jobs left with no doubt on his way even for a second.
Most of the leaders I know would break along the way, adapt, change their way to please others, and not producing a new reality while leading the way.
But Tim Cook does, and does it well. In fact, this is exactly the kind of leadership that Apple should, and was accustomed to it for the last decade and a half.
Tim Cook is the leader.
Moreover, Tim Cook is Apple that exactly matches leader and what it represents.
Related articles
Free Apps and Buzz for iPads, iPhone, iPod, iWatch, Apple and More
- Mark Zuckerberg Rated the Best CEO, Tim Cook Falls to 18th Place (applios.wordpress.com)
- Apple CEO Tim Cook falls from 1st to 18th in Glassdoor’s tech CEO rankings (macdailynews.com)
- Tim Cook ordered to testify in e-book antitrust lawsuit (electronista.com)
- Mark Zuckerberg ousts Tim Cook as top employee-approved tech CEO, according to Glassdoor (gigaom.com)
- Tim Cook: Apple Campus on track for 2013 groundbreaking (bizjournals.com)
- Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple (epicagear.com)
BozoWorld 