Apple CEO Steve Jobs will be taking a medical leave of absence with an undisclosed health issue, according to a top Apple executive.
"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 mahor strategic decisions for the company." Jobs says in the letter.
Tim Cook, COO of Apple, will take control of the company in Jobs' absence.
Jobs also said, "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."
Jobs' Health Timeline
October 2003-Steve Jobs diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to a 2008 article in Fortune magazine
Aug. 1, 2004- Announces he had surgery to remove the tumor and will not require chemotherapy,Tim Cook heads the company until his return
August 2006- Jobs delivered the keynote for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, looks "thin, almost gaunt." Apple spokesperson said that "Steve's health is robust."
June 9, 2008- While introducing the iPhone 3G at Apple’s developers’ conference, appears thinner and frail. The company blames a “common bug.”
July 21, 2008-Apple says he has no plans to leave the company and that his health is a private matter. Investors aren’t reassured, and the shares fall 10 percent. If Jobs were to leave for any reason, the stock would plummet 25 percent, says Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co
August 28, 2008, Bloomberg mistakenly published a 2500-word obituary of Jobs in its corporate news service, containing blank spaces for his age and cause of death
Sept. 9, 2008-Jobs, introducing new iPod media players at an event in San Francisco, still looks thin. “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” Jobs jokes
Dec. 16, 2008: Apple says that Jobs won’t be giving his usual speech at the Macworld conference, renewing concerns about his health. Jobs had used the forum to introduce new products for 11 straight years
Jan. 5, 2009: Jobs says he is suffering from a hormone imbalance, causing him to lose weight. Jobs vows to remain CEO during treatment.
Jan. 14, 2009: Jobs gives up day-to-day operations to Cook until June, saying his health problems are more complex than originally thought.
April 2009, Jobs underwent a liver transplant at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in Memphis, Tennessee. Jobs' prognosis was "excellent.” (Not fully certain)
Jan. 17, 2010- Jobs taking a medical leave, Cook to take control during that time.
