A new Cook in town

For every business, there comes the day when even its greatest innovator must step down. For Apple Computers, the time has finally come for its most storied founder, the legendary Steve Jobs, to abdicate his esteemed position as CEO. On Aug. 24, Jobs shocked the world by announcing his resignation as the head of Apple, ushering in a new era for the company.

Jobs requested that long-time Apple Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tim Cook succeed him as CEO and for himself to be retained as chairman of the board. Since then, questions about the company and about Jobs’ health have erupted. But most importantly, the question everyone is asking about the company’s future remains unanswered: Will Apple continue to thrive?

In Jobs’ last 14 years with Apple, shares have risen a mind-boggling 6,681.8 percent. In this 14-year span, Jobs completely revolutionized the technology industry in numerous areas. He revolutionized the MP3 player industry with the iPod. Jobs swept up the smart phone industry on a global scale with the iPhone and essentially started the tablet industry with the iPad.

During this time, Jobs’ leadership and sheer force of personality enabled Apple to transition from a mediocre technology company into the world’s most valuable company.

Apple is now in the hands of Cook, who has acted as interim CEO for many months when Jobs’ health was uncertain. During Cook’s tenure as CEO, Apple has become the world’s most valuable company. However the question still remains whether the company will continue to flourish under Cook.

After Jobs announced his resignation, Apple stocks dropped 5.37 percent, or $20.19, to $355.99. Considering one of the most influential and powerful figures in the tech industry stepped down, the drop in stocks is more than generous, indicating that investors and board members remain confident that Apple will continue to thrive under Cook’s leadership.

Many people believe that with the departure of Jobs, Apple will implode and disappear from the apex of the technology industry. They believe that upcoming Apple products will somehow drop in quality and will not meet up to the previously established Apple standard. However, such speculation is unwarranted. There is no possibility that a company as great and enduring as Apple would crumble so quickly at the departure of one man—even if the man is Steve Jobs.

Even though Apple will lose Jobs’ intensity and unparalleled passion for perfection, his legacy will be preserved by the thousands of employees who strive to achieve his vision. Furthermore, Jobs is not completely gone, as he will remain on as chairman of the board.

For now, most of Apple’s management falls to Cook. With Cook’s leadership and the company adhering to Jobs’ vision, Apple will do more than survive, it will thrive. Even though the unparalleled ingenuity and creativity of Jobs is no longer at the heart of Apple, Cook will uphold Apple’s reputation as one of the most innovative and profitable companies in the world.