Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Apple’s Big Man



Apple CEO and founder Steve Jobs is back to work and Mac users around the world and apples shareholders can exhale and look forward to more years of revolutionary products. But what does it mean when a CEO is so intricately tied to his brand and has no clear succession strategy?

His mysterious five month absence from work is rather similar to that of the President Omar Bongo who, however, did not return to rule Gabon.

Hundreds of family heads, company founders, business leaders, patricians, and presidents consider themselves immortal and, like Apple, rarely entertain discussions on health or succession.

Blind Item: There are three gentlemen in Kenya who fit the equal of Steve Jobs - leaders so closely inter-wined with their brand and with no defined succession plan: one is a center of power, one is a leading revenue generator, one is a fast banker; two have disclosed medical problems, two have had recent aircraft mishaps, and two have no defined successors. All three are integral to their brand and it is important that their partners and shareholders define real succession strategies.

Finally, now that the real Steve Jobs is back to work we can resume reading communiqués from the other Steve Jobs.

9 comments:

The Black Mamba said...

This is a quiz?

1. President Kibaki
2. Manu Chandaria
3. Jimnah Mbaru

coldtusker said...

1. Michael Joseph (Revenue)
2. Raila Odinga (Power)
3. James Mwangi (Banker)

MainaT said...

Kifaki
Michael Joesph
James Mwangi

PKW said...

1. Manu Chandaria
2. Michael Joseph
3. James Mwangi

The Niffler said...

first no one can argue with first and last.... 1.kibaki-- power
2.michael waweru...kra?
4.james mwangi

Mamboleo said...

“leaders so closely inter-wined with their brand and with no defined succession plan”
A classic problem facing most family owned businesses and inventor businesses where either the rest of the family has no interest in the business or no one else understands the technicality of the business. I think the apple share price fluctuation due to Steve Jobs illness have the board and shareholders pushing harder for re-branding (Apple without Steve Jobs) and also for a new leader who can almost fit Jobs shoes.

Andruid said...

There are probaly more than three who fit the bill in Kenya alone

Girl in the Meadow said...

I doubt Pres. Kibaki, taken care of by the constitution.
I nominate;
Michael Joseph
James Mwangi-Equity
Michael Waweru-KRA

bankelele said...

Ssembonge: 1/3

coldtusker: 2/3

MainaT: 3/3

PKW: 2/3

peter: 2/3

Mamboleo: Mac a great company, great products, but for how long?

Andruid: agreed

Girl In the Meadow: 2/3

anyway, the correct answers are the list is endless

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails