Apple chiefs: Does Tim Cook stay CEO for five years?

At Apple, managers usually last long – at least if they have survived well for the first few years. However, this is slowly leading to a form of “aging”, as the Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman In his newsletter from the weekend (Paywall). In his view, CEO Tim Cook will “at least” remain at the head of the company for another five years. Then the long-time top manager would be a good 70 years old-he will be 65 in November this year. But the remaining Apple leaders then went towards 65+. This applies, for example, to service boss Eddy Cue (becomes 61), software chief Craig Federighi (should be 57), marketing manager Greg Joswiak (becomes 62) or retail chief Deirdre o’brien (will be 60).

Cook successor needs patience

Gurman assumes that the renewal of Apple’s top will be a longer process. Hardwar chief John Ternus is still considered a candidate for a cooking succession. It is born in 1975 and therefore a youngster for Apple’s top management. If he took over the role in five years, he would then be 55. To classify: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died in October 2011 at the age of 56.

Most recently there had been some changes at the top at Apple. The right hand of Tim Cook, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, is officially retired at the end of the year. He was born in 1963, so it goes “very early”. His successor, Sabih Khan, is only three years younger. There was also a personnel in the financial sector: Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri, Kevan Parekh, himself for more than 10 years at Apple. He is born in 1972, so it can give the company for a few more decades.

CEO emergency plan not communicated

Apple currently does not provide any information about who would step in as CEO in an emergency. In addition to Ternus, this could also be Khan or the very popular O’Brien in the company (since 1988 (!) At Apple). After all, the group, also to rejuvenate the company, could rely on an outside candidate. However, this is considered dangerous, probably also for the board of Directors, i.e. the board of directors.

Cook has recently received criticism because of problems with AI and a lack of innovation speed, but he has led the company to new height flights in terms of sales and profits since taking office. The group does not want to risk this.