UPDATE: Read Jobs’ full e-mail to Apple staff after the jump.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is to step down from the head of the company due to ill health. He will take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.
The rumours have swirled for months, and now it seems to have hit breaking point. Steve Jobs is to step down as Apple’s CEO for six months, taking a medical leave of absence until the end of June. COO Tim Cook will take over Jobs’ responsibilities while he is on leave.
Apple stock was briefly suspended from trading this evening.
Earlier this month Jobs issued a statement explaining a hormone imbalance was behind his recent gaunt appearance, and that while he was taking time off from the Macworld Expo to be with his family, he was on the mend.
Tonight, however, he sent a new e-mail to Apple staff, announcing his intention to step down as CEO and stating that his health issues are “more complex” than he first thought.
Now, however, CNBC is reporting that two unnamed tech execs close to Jobs have said he is “in a state of denial” about his ill health, and have “expressed dire concerns” about his well being.
Stay tuned for more as we hear it.
UPDATE: Steve Jobs’ full e-mail to Apple staff explaining his leave of absence is below.
Team,
I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.
In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.
I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.
Steve
Tags: Apple, health, leave, Steve Jobs, tim cook