Under the leadership of Steve Jobs, Apple became a technology leader and cultural force. Take a look back at some favorite Jobs moments and ideas.

Paul Travis, Managing Editor, InformationWeek.com

August 25, 2011

11 Slides


Steve Jobs has resigned as chief executive officer of Apple, Inc., for the second time since he co-founded the company in 1976. He has been elected chairman of Apple's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Jobs is also a member of the board of directors of Pixar, where he was CEO for ten years prior to Disney's acquisition of the company in 2006.

Jobs has published a resignation letter that only alludes to the health issues that appear to have motivated his decision to step down. "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," Jobs wrote. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

In 2004, Jobs underwent an operation to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Though the operation was regarded a success, Jobs has continued to confront health issues in the years since then. He took a six-month leave of absence in January, 2009, and was granted another leave of absence this year.

Speaking on behalf of Apple's board, Art Levinson, chairman of Genentech, lauded Jobs's accomplishments and leadership. "Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," he said in a statement.

Jobs first resigned from Apple in 1984 following a boardroom power struggle and went on to found Next Computer. Apple acquired Next in 1996, bringing Jobs back to the company. Jobs took over as CEO the following year and began laying the groundwork for Apple's transformation into one of the most respected and successful companies in the world.

Across the Internet, fans and competitors expressed sadness at the presumed state of Jobs' health and admiration for his accomplishments.

Let's look back at some notable Jobs moments and innovations.

About the Author(s)

Paul Travis

Managing Editor, InformationWeek.com

Paul Travis is Managing Editor of InformationWeek.com. Paul got his start as a newspaper reporter, putting black smudges on dead trees in the 1970s. Eventually he moved into the digital world, covering the telecommunications industry in the 1980s (when Ma Bell was broken up) and moving to writing and editing stories about computers and information technology in the 1990s (when he became a "content creator"). He was a news editor for InformationWeek magazine for more than a decade, and he also served as executive editor for Tele.Com, and editor of Byte and Switch, a storage-focused website. Once he realized this Internet thingy might catch on, he moved to the InformationWeek website, where he oversees a team of reporters that cover breaking technology news throughout the day.

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