Tim Cook reportedly seeking new blood for Apple's board of directors
According to a report on Monday, Apple CEO Tim Cook is "actively seeking" new directors for the company's board as he relaxes the tech giant's laser focus in favor of support for existing products and new initiatives.
Source: ImagineChina/AP Photo via Bloomberg
In a profile on his performance as successor to Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, The Wall Street Journal claims Cook is looking to add to the company's long-standing -- and aging -- eight-person board of directors.
The board includes seven outside directors, six of whom are over the age of 63. Four have been with Apple for more than a decade, while Intuit CEO Bill Campbell and J. Crew Group chief Millard S. "Mickey" Drexler have both served since the late 1990s.
As noted by the publication, the current board is known for its loyalty to Jobs, which could make things difficult for Cook as he reshapes Apple to better retain its lead in the marketplace. Overall, the Apple chief's recent moves are considered to be more in line with those of "normal" tech firm CEOs, a distinct departure from the way Jobs ran his company.
One former employee describes Cook as a "peacetime CEO," contrasting against Jobs, who was a "wartime CEO."
"The only thing that Steve cared about was creating great products. The company, the employees were only there to facilitate that goal," said a former employee. "Tim is much more worried about everything at the company."
Source: ImagineChina/AP Photo via BloombergIn a profile on his performance as successor to Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, The Wall Street Journal claims Cook is looking to add to the company's long-standing -- and aging -- eight-person board of directors.
The board includes seven outside directors, six of whom are over the age of 63. Four have been with Apple for more than a decade, while Intuit CEO Bill Campbell and J. Crew Group chief Millard S. "Mickey" Drexler have both served since the late 1990s.
As noted by the publication, the current board is known for its loyalty to Jobs, which could make things difficult for Cook as he reshapes Apple to better retain its lead in the marketplace. Overall, the Apple chief's recent moves are considered to be more in line with those of "normal" tech firm CEOs, a distinct departure from the way Jobs ran his company.
One former employee describes Cook as a "peacetime CEO," contrasting against Jobs, who was a "wartime CEO."
"The only thing that Steve cared about was creating great products. The company, the employees were only there to facilitate that goal," said a former employee. "Tim is much more worried about everything at the company."
Comments
Want to see that Intuit Campbell guy go and VP Gore. The others I don't know but Campbell was a friend of Steve, but he's a jerk at running Intuit and keep the Mac platform behind as far as possible. Gore? What possible contribution has he made, even if we are talking political clout. Zero.
As long as they don't base their decisions on "diversity" or any other forms of modern day discrimination, then I am in favor of this.
I've said this before, but being on the board of Apple sure sounds like winning a lottery ticket.
How often does the board have to meet? How many hours per year do the board members put in on average? How much of an input does the board really have?
I am much more in favor of a "wartime CEO", than a "peacetime CEO", but there's nothing that can be done about that since Jobs is no longer around of course, and Tim Cook has done a pretty good job so far.
Algorithms were named after him for a reason. Duh¡
I never saw that one before! LOL
I think they need an end user with a lot of experience, and I am available.
Algorithms were named after him for a reason. Duh¡
He believes he invented the internet.
He thinks Cacti are waving at him when he drives his Prius through the desert.
He has never been Googled.
He's, the least interesting man in the world.
RadarTheKat
"He's, the least interesting man in the world."
That's funny! ROFL!
That said, I would also vote for some stability and continuity, and moving slowly. Many of them have grown up with the modern Apple, and they know today's company pretty well. They have, for better or worse, been a part of shaping it.
I'm available.
"relaxes the tech giant's laser focus in favor of support for existing products and new initiatives."
Doesn't even make sense. What else does Apple do, other than focus on existing products, and new initiatives?
How often does the board have to meet? How many hours per year do the board members put in on average? How much of an input does the board really have?
At least four times a year, in companies like Apple. The average Fortune 500 board member spends about one month worth of company-related work. Post-SOx, boards have a major say in what goes on in companies.
Get rid of Gore. What expertise does he have in technology?
Probably more expertise than you do.
I might agree with your suggestion, but your politics aside, why do you want to get rid of Gore?
He believes he invented the internet.
He thinks Cacti are waving at him when he drives his Prius through the desert.
He has never been Googled.
He's, the least interesting man in the world.
I think that summed it up nicely.
Let face it. Steve was thrown out by the original board of Apple since they were bean counters. Steve obviously was able to get people in place who did not question what he was doing, they were just figure heads to give the outside world some satisfaction that someone may have been watching over Steve. The next worse thing for some companies outside of listening to what Wall Street has to say about how a company should be run is a board it is pushing the Wall street agenda. It is obvious that this board did not do that until Cook took over and they fell to the pressure of icahn and wall street.
As long as that doesnt involve any product presentations at all, I might be okay. I cringe when he gets on stage. You can tell there's little to no understanding about what he's presenting. Just marketing speak.