Poor health took the better of Steve Jobs as he resigned on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through technology and media circles.
Jobs was diagnosed with cancer in his pancreas on October 2003. He had tried a special diet to avoid surgery. But eventually he had to resort to surgery in 2004 . Nevertheless it was a successful one without the need for chemotherapy.
Four years later, false reports of his death shocked the industry. Jobs himself gave a statement on Sept. 9, 2008, joking "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
During late 2008 Jobs was looking very frail and had lost a lot of weight, fueling more speculation. On Jan. 5, 2009, Jobs said a hormone imbalance was causing him to lose weight, but vowed to remain CEO during treatment. "The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward," Jobs said in an open letter dated Jan 14, 2009:
He had given up his day-to-day operations to Tim until June 2009, saying his health problems were more complex than originally thought. Jobs also said he would remain involved in major strategic decisions. "I look forward to seeing all of you this summer," he had stated in a letter to his employees.
In June 23, 2009, Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in Memphis confirmed that Jobs had a liver transplant and had "an excellent prognosis." During his first public appearance after the surgery, Jobs said, "I am back at Apple and loving every minute of it".
On Aug. 24, 2011, Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple, marking an end to his reign at the consumer electronics giant he co-founded in a garage. Apple shares slid to $357.40 in extended trading after a brief halt. They had gained 0.7 percent to close at $376.18 on the Nasdaq.
Here is Job's resignation letter to Apple.
To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:
I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.
Steve
Apple Computer Corp. on September 16 named Steven Jobs as Interim chief executive officer two months after Gil Amelio resigned from the position. Jobs is shown at a press conference at the first international NEXTWORLD Expo in San Francisco January 22, 1992. COMPUTERS APPLEReutersApple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the latest improvements to the company's Mac software during a news conference at Apple Inc. headquarters in Cupertino, California, October 20, 2010. Apple is looking to increase market share gains against Microsoft Windows-based PCs. In the quarter that just ended, Mac revenue was $4.9 billion, less than a quarter of Apple's overall revenue.ReutersSteve JobsReutersApple CEO Steve Jobs smiles during the Macworld Convention and Expo in San Francisco, California January 15, 2008. REUTERS/Robert GalbraithReutersApple CEO Steve Jobs stands by the new iMac computer as he addresses the Apple Expo in Paris September 17. The iMac computer sells in France for under 10,000 Francs. MAL/MEReutersApple CEO Steve Jobs holds up Apple's new Mini Mac computer which he introduced at the Macworld Conference in San Francisco January 11, 2005. The Mini Mac is a very small $499 computer that aims to make inroads against the traditionally more affordable PC market. Around Jobs' neck is Apple's new Ipod Shuffle, a digital music player which will retail for $99.ReutersApple Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs is shown in this combination photo of file photographs dating (top row L to R) July 2000, November 2003, September 2005, (bottom L to R) September 2006, January 2007 and September 2008. Jobs will take a medical leave of absence until the end of June because his health problems are "more complex" than he had thought, shocking investors and sending the company's shares down as much as 10 percent on January 14, 2009.ReutersApple CEO Steve Jobs announces the opening of Apple's first retail store during a press conference in at Tyson's Corner in McLean, Virginia, May 15, 2001. Jobs said that Apple hopes to eventually open 25 retail stores in the U.S. and that the first two stores will open this weekend.ReutersApple CEO Steve Jobs pulls the new iPod nano out of his jeans pocket after introducing it at an event in San Francisco. Apple CEO Steve Jobs pulls the new iPod nano out of his jeans pocket after introducing it at an event in San Francisco, California September 7, 2005. The nano weighs 1.5 ounces and is one-fifth the size of the original iPod. Apple said on Wednesday that it would introduce the new iPod digital music player, which would hold up to 1,000 songs and be thinner than a standard No. 2 pencil. Two versions of the new player, costing $199 and $249, would begin shipping immediately, Jobs saidReutersApple's Steve Jobs.REUTERSApple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs speaks to the media at the launch of the European iTunes online music store in London, in this June 15, 2004 file photograph. Apple announced that Jobs resigned as CEO on August 24, 2011. Tim Cook, the company's Chief Operating Officer, who has been standing in for Jobs during his medical leave, has been named the new CEO, with Jobs becoming Chairman.Reuters
