Linda,
Th board has decided Jobs is the best candidate of CEO long time ago.
Yesterday's BOD meeting is not focusing on whether Jobs should be
the CEO because the situation now is just opposite - they want Jobs.
Therefore, I beleive the meeting has more important agenda, emphasizing on
the rough evalutation/estimation/review of Q2 ended on 3/28.
Let's think about whether Jobs will take the position from the following three stages and his mind-changed:
(1) When Jobs became the interim CEO last July:
During that time, he really didn't want the job. But, he has to
take it because NeXT was just acquired by Apple and he is the only
person to let NeXT employees melted into Apple's family and tried
to merge NeXT OS with existing Mac platform. He appointed several
NeXT employees on key positions. The Mac sales were terrible that
also makes him unconfident on Apple's future. He went to Hawaii
for vacation to think it through and didn't take the permanent
one.
(2) Before Q1 was out, Jobs knew it was a lot better than anticipated,
which gave him more confidience. He approached BOD for CEO
job. But, he gave up again with some reasons which nobody knows
but him or BOD. I think maybe the offered conditions were not
good enough to have him accept, probably due to only one quarter
report with good results. BOD, like us, want to see more evdience,
so, here comes the third stage in (3).
(3) Jobs approached BOD again in mid to late February asking for CEO
job. Hehe, this time Jobs and BOD have seen most of Q2 progress
and hence BOD has more confidence to offer him the best deal ever.
Therefore, BOD and Jobs deals are totally based on company's
performance (I think). Whether Jobs will skip again depends on what he
thinks about if the timing is correct.
(4) He likes his family but personally I believe he also loves to
have powers. Money for him is almost unimportant compared to
his famous images, which is natural. If he stays with Apple,
he is more visible to the public and feels more accomplishment
compared to working at Pixar's (my own judgement).
Based on the above three stages and his psychological changes, he
is getting more involvement in Apple and confidence is gradually
built up. I don't think he will refuse this time, but he just tries
to think about when will be more appropriate for himself, Pixar,
and Apple to change to the permanent one.
Phil |
