Liver transplant for Apple’s Steve Jobs enables his return
APPLE chief executive Steve Jobs is understood to have undergone a liver transplant operation about two months ago and is expected to return to work by the end of this month.
Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor seen as the driving force behind development of the iPod, iPhone and other category-defining products from Apple’s famed innovation machine, went on medical leave in January for an undisclosed condition.
An Apple spokesman said: “Steve continues to look forward to returning to Apple at the end of June and there is nothing further to say.”
While investors may react negatively to the news today, when stock markets re-open, analysts say Wall Street is broadly prepared for Jobs’shift to a role that sees him focusing on big picture ideas and products at Apple.
Chief operating officer Tim Cook has been managing the company on a day-to-day basis in Jobs’ absence, and is expected to continue to do so if Jobs does not return to the role full-time, analysts say.
The 54-year-old Jobs could return to work part-time at first, with Cook taking on “a more encompassing role”.
Some investors have priced Jobs’ departure into Apple’s share price.