Tag: Ceo »

Note: Forgive us, this article isn't something that we would normally publish. But last week was not an ordinary week. We're still trying to adapt to it all.

I've started to refer to this moment during Tuesday's special event as the Schiller sigh. The first time I noticed it, it seemed like a very odd reaction. But we now know it was a moment of true emotion escaping in a very important presentation. With hindsight I understand the reaction and the strong emotion behind it, and it speaks volumes. Take a look at the video below, if you missed it during the presentation.

That reaction has haunted me ever since noticing it upon re-watching the special event stream. This week has been a very emotional week and after noticing Phil Schiller's reaction, I could not get it out of my head.

Was that a sigh and did he look sad right after announcing the new flagship iOS phone? He should be really proud after announcing a new product. People should see in your face and reaction how great the product is and how proud of it you are. But no, that was a sigh, and a very sad face.

Initially I thought that perhaps Phil didn't like the iPhone 4S or name. Then I quickly realized it wasn't the name but the fact that he was up there announcing it. A product who's real creator could not be up there to announce it himself. Only the next day did we understand exactly why.

That was just a single moment in the middle of a very subdued presentation. Not the traditional Apple presentation we are used to. Phil let his emotions tell what, out of respect to the family, he couldn't say with words. The life of a great man, the one whom everyone in that room admired and respected, was coming to an end. The executive team knew it. They went on with the event, most likely because Steve expected them to. They were all very professional, but the emotional toll on the presenters was evident.

Looking back, they held up amazingly well. I can not imagine how tough it must have been to be up there. But they are professionals who knew that Steve would be watching and expect nothing less from them. And the products announced, which Steve was responsible for, deserved it.

An empty seat that can never be filled. Reserved last week at the iPhone 4S announcement.

“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,” said Steve Jobs in the letter in which he announced his resignation as Apple’s Chief Executive Officer effective Aug. 24, 2011.

The board has already approved Jobs’ request to become Chairman of the Board as well as name former Apple COO Tim Cook as the new CEO. Ever since Jobs began battling pancreatic cancer, Cook has been running the day-to-day operations of the company, including briefly becoming CEO in 2004 when Jobs first announced that he had the disease.

Jobs, who had helped start the company in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, had previously left Apple in 1985 to form NeXT only to return in 1996 after an Apple buyout and ascend to CEO in 1997. During his tenure, the company had experienced success so great that they briefly had more money than the U.S. government.

Apple has also released a statement regarding Jobs’ resignation.

“Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”