Timothy D. CookCEO of Apple Inc.
Date of Birth: 11.1960Год
Country: USA |
Content:
- Biography of Tim Cook
- Early Life and Education
- Career at Apple
- CEO of Apple
- Leadership and Philanthropy
- Personal Life and Legacy
Biography of Tim Cook
Timothy Donald Cook is the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. He became the new head of the company after the departure of Steve Jobs. However, Cook had already been making numerous managerial decisions while Jobs was battling his illness. Some believe that the change in leadership did not benefit the company, but Apple has been thriving under Cook's leadership.
Early Life and Education
Tim Cook was born in Mobile, Alabama, United States. He grew up in the nearby town of Robertsdale. His father, Donald, worked at a shipyard, while his mother, Geraldine, worked at a pharmacy. Cook completed his high school education and went on to attend Auburn University, where he graduated in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. In 1988, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University. In 2015, Cook received an honorary doctorate degree from George Washington University.
Career at Apple
After graduating from his first university, Cook started working with personal computers at IBM, which he was passionate about for 12 years. He eventually became the director of the North American Fulfillment project. Cook later held positions as the Chief Operating Officer at Intelligent Electronics and as the Vice President of Corporate Materials at Compaq. In 1998, Cook was invited to join Apple. Despite the logical advantages of staying at Compaq, Cook decided to trust his intuition and accepted the offer after a conversation with Steve Jobs.
CEO of Apple
Cook's first role at Apple was as the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations. He described his work as resembling that of a milkman, actively eliminating products with expired shelf life by closing factories and warehouses, replacing them with contract manufacturers and suppliers. Cook's group also made successful investments in flash memory development, which became a crucial component for future i-devices. Cook's ability to control production costs, along with the company's design and marketing successes, resulted in impressive profits for Apple.
In January 2007, Cook became the Chief Operating Officer of the company, and in 2009, he was offered the position of CEO while Steve Jobs focused on strategic decisions due to his deteriorating health. Cook officially became the CEO on August 24, 2011, after Jobs resigned and became the Chairman of the Board. Jobs passed away six weeks later on October 5, 2011.
Leadership and Philanthropy
Cook made significant changes to Apple's leadership team on October 29, 2012. He restructured the company and several executives, including Scott Forstall and John Browett, left the company. Cook emphasized effective management by frequently sending emails at 4:30 a.m. and hosting Sunday night conference calls to prepare the team for the upcoming week. He believed that the secret to Apple's success lies in people, strategy, and execution.
Under Cook's leadership, Apple became more actively involved in charitable initiatives. In 2013, he hired Lisa Jackson, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to lead projects focused on renewable energy sources. Cook himself is an advocate for a healthy lifestyle, enjoying walking, cycling, and regular visits to the gym. He keeps his personal life private and avoids public attention.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1996, Cook was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but the diagnosis was later found to be incorrect. However, it prompted him to reflect on his life and led him to actively participate in charitable events related to the disease. In 2009, Cook offered a part of his liver to Steve Jobs for a transplant, but Jobs declined the offer. Rumors about Cook's sexual orientation circulated in 2011, but he did not comment on them until 2014 when he officially announced his homosexuality. This made him the first openly gay CEO on the Fortune 500 list. In March 2014, Cook revealed his plans to donate his entire fortune to charitable causes.