Leadership at Apple - Tim Cook’s First Year

It’s just a year since Tim Cook took over as CEO of Apple when Steve Jobs stepped down from the role ahead of his untimely passing. Succession planning at Apple had been carefully planned, but at the time many analysts, investors and the media questioned whether Tim Cook would be able to sustain the incredible growth story that had been masterminded by Jobs. So how has Cook got on?

This article in Forbes Magazine casts a reflective eye on Tim Cook’s first 12 months as CEO and the results to-date look pretty impressive.

Take the continued growth in the market capitalisation of Apple. Since Cook took over, the value of Apple as a company has increased by over $270 billion. And as Tom White wrote in this blog, it can be argued that Apple (after overtaking Microsoft’s peak market capitalisation in 1999) is now the most valuable business in history.

Whilst Apple’s new product development has been less ambitious in the last year, the upgraded iPhones and iPads have all been very well received by the market.

And there is also evidence that Apple has significantly improved its operating practices after coming under intense pressure for its record of corporate social responsibility. This recent report in the Guardian explains that Foxconn, Apple’s top manufacturer, has improved safety conditions and cut working hours in an effort to resolve violations at its plants that triggered a global scandal for the iPad and iPhone maker.

But how much of the success achieved by Apple in the last 12 months is down to Tim Cook? The Forbes article suggests that much of the success might be attributable to the legacy plans put in place by Jobs:

“While Cook wins high marks from investors and generally favorable reviews from employees and partners, the conventional wisdom is that the current success of Apple continues to be attributable to the plans put in place by Steve Jobs.”

I suspect that is a little harsh. What was Cook supposed to do on taking over - take Apple through a process of significant change?