The Irreplaceable Man →
How do you replace the irreplaceable man? Like we’re seeing. An open-ended medical leave, where he retains the CEO title. A continuation of strong new products, including a major improvement to the iPad, the device that is upending the entire computer industry. The ceding of day-to-day operations and leadership to Tim Cook, his right-hand man and chosen successor. Ever-higher profiles during public product announcements of top product-focused lieutenants like Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall, and Eddy Cue.
The simple answer to “How do you replace the irreplaceable man?” is “you don’t”. Fortunately, Apple knows that. A person who so intimately and deeply understands simplicity and elegance of design, and possibilities of technology and how to appeal to the human psyche cannot and should not be replaced. This is why Apple would never fill Steve Jobs’ position with Jack Dorsey or Scott Forstall. Doing so would indicate Apple trying to approximate Steve’s presence as closely as possible, which could only lead to disappointment in failing to duplicate him exactly. Instead, Apple has elevated the man who has long enabled Apple’s vision to come to life but will not try to replace Steve Jobs, only succeed him.
Apple makes its profits selling hardware and Apple devices are their most powerful branding tool. For the past 13 years at Apple, and even in his IBM and Compaq days, no one has been better at making great hardware than Tim Cook. Apple is in the right hands.
