Yesterday Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, resigned. The resignation failed to shake investors, even though Apple stock fell below $80 per share on his first health-related leave of absence in January of 2009.

Steve Jobs’ Resignation Letter:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

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.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Cook served as interim CEO during both of Jobs’ January leaves in 2009 and 2011. Here is Cook’s letter to the Apple team:

Team:

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.

Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is.

Tim

Steve Jobs Fun Facts

If you are interested in Steve Jobs, I highly recommend a blog by Huffington Post’s James Altucher, “10 Unusual Things You Didn’t Know About Steve Jobs“. You may not have known that his father’s name is Abdulfattah Jandali– Jobs is half Syrian Muslim although he is a practicing zen Buddhist, and he plead “sterility” in denying paternity of his first child.

And like all rockstars, Jobs didn’t go to college (famous college drop-outs include: Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Jim Morrison).

Steve Jobs had a hand in all of Apple’s defining products, dating back to 1976 with Apple’s first computer. He saved Apple in 1996 with the iMac– that colorful personal computer you could see inside of. And he introduced us to the iPod, iTunes and the tablet. I’m making it sound like he died or something. Jobs is still an Apple employee– I’m going to cut it out. Make some noise Apple Junkies!

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