Apple’s CEO going on medical leave

Steve Jobs, the charismatic Apple’s CEO, is learnt to be moving on a medical leave in the wake of his deteriorating health.  Questions have been raised on the issue of the software giant’s succession with Steve going on such long leave. Only in the last week had Steve assured the investors that he was still fit to lead the company at his best.  Steve chose to write an e-mail to all his employees announcing that his health issues were “more complex” than thought originally.

LATimes reports that, Steve has also announced that Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer, will be in-charge during his absence in the company. Cook will be donning the role he played earlier in 2004, when Steve underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his pancreas.

Apple’s stock has seen cuts by rumors about Steve’s health since he appeared drawn and gaunt at a developers conference in June. Gossips had been around last month, after Apple said that he wouldn’t deliver the keynote at the Macworld Conference & Expo for the first time in 11 years.

In an effort to clear the speculation around his inability, Jobs, disclosed the hormone imbalance on Jan. 5 and said he was working with doctors to correct it. “I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO,” Jobs had said then.