January 14, 2009
By

David Needle

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Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Computer, told company employees in an email message Wednesday that health issues will require him to take a medical leave of absence from the company until the end of June.

Just last week Job revealed that he suffered from a hormone imbalance that caused a noticeable weight loss.

"In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June," Jobs said in the email released by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL).

Tim Cook, Apple's chief operating officer, will run the company until his return in summer, Jobs said, adding that he will continue to retain the position of CEO during that time.

"During the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought," Jobs wrote. a medical leave of absence until the end of June." "As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. I look forward to seeing all of you this summer."

Rumors surrounding the health of Apple's most famous employee have continued since Jobs' July 2004 surgery for pancreatic cancer. They resurfaced following his dramatically thinner appearance at Apple's 2008 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Further fanning the flames of gossip has been the fact that Apple is widely seen as reluctant to speak openly about Jobs' health. Industry rumormongers regularly criticize Apple and Jobs for the fact that his cancer had not been disclosed to shareholders until after his surgery, despite a diagnosis months earlier, in October 2003.

Jobs indicated that the ongoing buzz around his health had also been a factor in his decision to take a leave of absence.

"I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community," he wrote. "Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well."

In his letter last week, Jobs also pledged to make an announcement if he becomes unable to continue run the company.

Apple does not have a clear succession plan in place for Jobs. Cook is seen as one of Jobs' two most likely replacements, after having previously run Apple's day-to-day operations during Jobs' month-long recuperation following his 2004 cancer surgery.

Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of marketing, is seen as a second leading candidate to succeed Jobs. At Macworld last week, Schiller took over the keynote address slot traditionally reserved for Jobs.

 (This article was adapted from InternetNews.com.)

TAGS: Microsoft, XML, Apple, steve jobs

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