Apple boss Steve Jobs to take medical leave

Kubo · Jan 18, 2011

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs emails staff to announce leave of absence 'so I can focus on my health'

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who has survived pancreatic cancer, is taking a medical leave of absence from the company almost two years after he took a similar one, during which he received a liver transplant.

The announcement by Apple today will rekindle speculation about long-term survival prospects for Jobs, 55, following his treatment for cancer in 2004.
In an email sent to all Apple employees this morning, Jobs said: "At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.
"I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.
"I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy."

The move mirrors the arrangements Apple made in 2009 when Jobs took a six-month leave of absence. Cook, Apple's chief operating officer, took over the day-to-day running then as well.

Jobs received treatment for a rare, and survivable, form of pancreatic cancer in 2004. He returned to the company later that year, but made few public appearances until 2006.
In mid-2008 speculation about his apparent loss of weight led to Apple denying that there had been any after-effects from his surgery, which used a method called the "Whipple procedure", which removes sections of the duodenum.

It was after that that Jobs eventually had to take his first bout of medical leave, leading to a liver transplant in April 2009.
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Apple boss Steve Jobs to take medical leave

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