蘋果電腦執行長 Steve Jobs 在週三(2011/8/24)無預警的辭去執行長(CEO)一職，董事會也通過由原先的營運長(COO) Tim Cook 立即接任 CEO 並加入董事會。不過 Jobs 仍繼續留任董事長。

Tim Cook 擔任 COO 時就負責 Apple 全球銷售業務以及營運，包括 Apple 供應鏈點對點的管理、銷售活動、各國以及所有市場的售後服務。他同時也是 Mac 部門負責人。

Steve Jobs 同時也發表了公開信，只說這一天終會來臨，並強力推薦 Tim Cook，但並沒有提到辭職的原因。一般猜想應該還是健康因素。Tim Cook 接任 CEO 原本就是 Apple 的規劃，因此 Jobs 辭去這項職務也不致於產生太大影響，但 Apple 股價在盤後交易仍大跌了 5%。不過以後就很難在產品發表會上看到 Jobs 身影了！

以下是 Jobs 公開信全文。

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