Steve Jobs Steps Down from Apple

Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive officer from Apple. His place at the top of the company will be taken by Tim Cook, previously Apple's chief operating officer.

Steve Jobs Steps Down from Apple

Jobs has been dogged by a string of health problems in recent years that forced him to take periodic leaves of absence from the company. Jobs announced in January that he was taking an indefinite medical leave from Apple--his third in recent years--and handed over day-to-day responsibility to Cook. He told his employees in January, "I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can."

Cook, 50, joined Apple in 1998 and was promoted to COO in 2004. He has long been Jobs' right-hand executive, heading up shareholders meetings and earnings calls with Wall Street investors, and acting as a figurehead at product introductions.

The Steve Jobs era

• 1976 - Co-founds Apple with Steve Wozniak.
• 1984 - Apple introduces the Mac.
• 1985 - CEO John Sculley engineers Jobs' ouster from Apple.
• 1985 - Founds Next Computer (later becomes Next Software).
• 1986 - Buys computer graphics division of LucasFilm, to be renamed Pixar.
• 1996 - Returns to Apple as adviser when Apple buys Next Software.
• 1997 - Named interim CEO of Apple.
• 2001 - Apple introduces iTunes software and the iPod; the iTunes store follows in 2003.
• 2006 - Disney buys Pixar; Jobs becomes largest shareholder.
• 2007 - Apple introduces the iPhone.
• 2009 - Takes 6-month leave of absence for medical reasons.
• 2010 - Apple introduces the iPad.
• 2011 January - Takes medical leave of absence.
• 2011 August - Resigns as CEO, becomes chairman. Tim Cook becomes CEO.