Report on Tim Cook's departure: A test for the stock markets?
Over the weekend, news spread that Tim Cook might retire as early as next year. Observers consider this a deliberate leak.
Apple CEO Tim Cook at an event for the iPhone manufacturer.
(Image: Apple)
The news from the Financial Times (FT) that Tim Cook might be leaving Apple as early as next year sent shockwaves over the weekend. Until now, observers had assumed that the manager, who would be in his 15th year as Apple CEO in 2026, would remain with the company for quite some time. Although Cook has just turned 65 and his most important manager, COO Jeff Williams, is now officially out. However, it was said that Apple would need some time for succession planning. Observers are therefore wondering if the relatively short message, which was handled by a total of four FT editors, might have been a cleverly placed leak.
Only with Cook's approval?
The former journalist and Google Ventures partner MG Siegler believes this. He believes the news is more than just speculation or gossip, but a “potential test balloon launched by some people who need to know.” Other Apple experts like blogger John Gruber see it similarly. The latter even believes that the information only with Cook's consent reached the media, for example, through members of Apple's Board of Directors.
The test balloon would have the advantage of allowing one to check how Wall Street reacts. After all, Cook is the man who turned Apple into a 4 trillion US dollar company (market capitalization)—from 350 billion dollars during Steve Jobs' time. Accordingly, the stock market could react nervously. And indeed it did: on Monday, Apple shares fell by a significant 1.82 percent. However, in after-hours trading, they rose slightly again.
Videos by heise
Internal arrangement considered preferred
Apple itself, of course, does not comment on such reports. However, it is clear that the company needs a successor for Cook. It is well known that hardware engineering chief John Ternus is repeatedly mentioned as a good candidate. Cook himself would prefer an internal candidate. But none of this is settled yet.
However, it is also clear that the CEO will not disappear from the scene. Cook is very likely to become Chairman of the Board of Directors and replace the long-serving chairman, Arthur D. Levinson. Levinson turned 75 this spring and is therefore no longer eligible to run. Cook, at 65, could then easily control the company for another ten years. All of this will be clarified at the earliest in January. Then Apple will announce the figures for the Christmas quarter.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(bsc)
