Post date: Aug 25, 2011 11:52:22 AM
Consumers say the resignation of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs will leave a mark on the company, but shouldn't damage the core of the technology giant's business.
PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 25, 2011) REUTERS - Consumers across the world said on Thursday (August 25) that Steve Jobs' decision to step down immediately as CEO of technology powerhouse Apple would not significantly affect the company.
Shares in Apple Inc were marked lower by investors on Thursday as the company faced a future without Jobs, its founder and visionary, at the helm.
Jobs resigned as as CEO on Wednesday (August 25), passing the reins to his right-hand man Tim Cook, saying he could no longer fulfil his duties, but making no mention of the poor health that has forced him to take a back seat this year.
Shoppers outside the Apple store in Paris didn't appear to be overly concerned.
"I think Steve Jobs is part of the marketing. He's the one who inspires the strategy. But the strategy is not only driven by Steve Jobs. Actually I don't think it will change the products much. Maybe within ten years. They have just launched the tablet, the iPad, etc so..." said local resident Mickael.
"It's a very very big company, so I'm sure there are other people there who are probably as brilliant as him," said another Parisian, Suzanne.
This sentiment was also echoed in South Africa, where consumers appeared to take the news in their stride.
"The Apple brand is going strong, it's still gonna go strong even without him," said Apple store manager Thamsanqa Mdlalose.
Other Johannesburg residents agreed.
"Apple is a well run machine and i think even without Steve Jobs it will still do well," said local shopper Bathana Vundla.
Others warned that whilst Jobs himself was not the whole company, Apple would still be losing a major part of their company, particularly as other companies are making up ground on the tech giant.
"I think it's a major loss, it will be difficult to keep up because there is a lot of competition from HTC, from Google, I think it will be tough, but will see how they tick up, i am sure he has built a good team around him, so will see how it goes."
Independent media strategist Mark Mulligan said Jobs himself is responsible for much of the favourable terms the company has managed to obtain from both regulators and other businesses.
"He's clearly charismatic. He's clearly somebody who I would say is a force of personality, and somebody who manages to inspire leadership in people. There is no way that he would've been at the top of his game through so many challenges, personal as well as business. He's managed to hammer through things nobody else has achieved in negotiations," he said.
Jobs, who fought and survived a rare form of pancreatic cancer and revolutionised the technology arena with the iPod, iPhone and iPad, is deemed the heart and soul of a company that became the most valuable in the world for a brief period this year.
"The Apple product has lost Steve Jobs, yes he played a fundamental role in Apple, but i mean things need to progress, it doesn't really mean anything, I don't think it's gonna change anything, they've got a lot of young people, I mean a lot of the technology that we are seeing right now like the iPhones was spearheaded by a lot of young people and the designers that they have to basically produce and stuff, so i don't think it's gonna change anything," said South African musician Don Juan.
Jobs announced his resignation in a brief letter, saying "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."
The letter and a separate statement from Apple raised more questions than it answered about Jobs' health and the future of the company. Jobs will continue as chairman.
In London some shoppers echoed these concerns.
"It is quite a shock, but I can't blame him with the health issues that he has, but it is a very undecisive time for Apple at the moment so he's just wondering what way the company's going to go, and the fact that the iPhone 5 was going to come out next year I believe, that makes me wonder if that's going to be put on hold now," said local resident Simon Leavesley.
"He was really... I don't know. The company will miss him, because I know he was the face of Apple," said local shopper Ilya Ryndin.
Apple consumers appeared to remain loyal to the brand however, pointing to the company's trustworthiness as a huge selling point.
"Shocked, but not devastated. I'd still be comfortable with buying anything from Apple, it's an established brand, I trust the quality of their products. I don't think it's going to stop me," said Holly Wilson.
While it is unlikely that his departure as CEO will derail Apple's ambitious product-launch roadmap in the near term, there are concerns about whether the company will be as creative without its founder and visionary at the helm.
Apple's stock traded down 4.1 percent in Frankfurt on Thursday, following a drop of as much as 7 percent in U.S. after-hours trading when Jobs' departure was announced.
In the company statement, Apple co-lead director Art Levinson on behalf of the board praised Jobs' "extraordinary vision and leadership" and said he would continue to serve the
company with "unique insights, creativity and inspiration".
J
obs' battle with pancreatic cancer, which has stretched over several years, has been of deep concern to Apple fans, investors and the company's board.
Over the past two years, even board members have confided to friends their concern that Jobs, in his quest for privacy, wasn't being forthcoming with directors about the true condition of his health.
Jobs has been on medical leave since Jan. 17, with his duties being filled by Cook, who was chief operating officer.
The 56-year-old Jobs had briefly emerged from his medical leave in March to unveil the latest version of the iPad and later to attend a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for technology leaders in Silicon Valley.
But his often-gaunt appearance had sparked questions about how bad his illness was, and his ability to continue at Apple.
In each of Jobs' three health-related absences, Cook has taken over the helm. The 50-year-old Alabama native, a former Compaq executive and an acknowledged master of supply-chain management, remains largely untested in Wall Street's view, however.
One Silicon Valley CEO, who declined to be identified because of the sensitive issues involved, said the tone of Jobs' statement indicated his health might be worse than feared.
The Apple chieftain has earned a reputation for commanding every aspect of operations -- from day-to-day running to broad strategic decisions -- suggesting he would not give up the job if he had a choice.