For a decade, Steve Jobs has been at the helm of the company he cofounded more than 30 years ago. But this year will mark a first for Apple and its CEO, who will miss the annual shareholder meeting for the first time since returning to the company in 1997.
Jobs is on medical leave until June, battling an illness that made him look frail from losing weight in the past year. His hormonal imbalance stirred a controversy that began when Apple announced that this year was its last at Macworld and that Jobs would not deliver the keynote.
Rumors that Jobs was losing his battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer hurt Apple’s stock as investors sought information about his health and a succession plan. Apple and Jobs have remained tight-lipped other than Jobs posting a note on Apple’s Web site on Jan. 5 explaining that his weight loss came from a hormonal imbalance and telling the Apple community that he would continue to run Apple.
Despite Jobs’ note, only nine days later, on Jan. 14, Apple announced that he would take a leave of absence and that his medical problems were more complex. Jobs is reportedly considering a liver transplant after complications stemming from treatment of his cancer, according to Bloomberg.
“Why don’t you guys just leave me alone — why is this so important?” Jobs told Bloomberg when asked for a comment about his health.
The leave started a new flurry of rumors about his health and prompted a debate between Jobs’ right to privacy and Apple’s fiduciary duties. The situation also prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission to probe Apple’s disclosures surrounding Jobs and his health, Bloomberg reported last month.
Things remained quiet as Jobs reportedly worked on getting healthy — until now.
When Jobs decided…