SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Apple co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs announced that he was taking another medical leave Monday, raise questions about the future of global technology powerhouse.
Jobs, 55, who underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2004 and a liver transplant in 2009, said it would continue as chief executive "and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company."
Wall Street was closed for a holiday, but the surprise announcement that the iconic technology executive was faced with renewed health problems sent Apple shares tumbling in Frankfurt, where they lost 6,57% 243.10 euro.
"At my request, the Board of Directors has granted me a medical leave so I can focus on my health," Jobs said in an email three-paragraph employees Apple hasn't given his most recent medical concerns.
Jobs, the Silicon Valley legend behind the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad, says chief operating officer Tim Cook would be "responsible for all operations by the day Apple" during his absence.
Cook, 50, even when the work went nearly six-month medical leave in 2009.
"I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the Executive management team will do a fantastic job, performing exciting plans that we have in place for 2011," said Jobs.
"I love Apple so much and I hope to be as soon as possible," he said. "Meanwhile, my family and I would greatly appreciate our privacy."
Questions about Jobs ' health have resurfaced periodically after the diagnosis of cancer in 2004 and were the subject of debate among the experts of corporate governance, as well as the obligations of the company to its shareholders.
"Critics have argued that because he is a manager that aggressive, hands-on and engineered Apple's runaway success in recent years, it is important for shareholders to be better informed of his health problems," he told TheStreet.com.
Noting that jobs "is considered to be almost the only architect of massive success for Apple," Douglas McIntyre of 247WallSt .com said "Apple's forecast that actions may hit $ 450 or $ 500 must be put out, perhaps indefinitely."
Analyst Rob Enderle of Silicon Valley, the COO said Cook, has proven to be a competent manager, but the challenge for the company without jobs is "what Apple will do next?"
"Which is probably where Steve Jobs is going to be very lost," he said, adding that with each departure "there is an increasing possibility that he will not return."
Jobs underwent an operation for pancreatic cancer in 2004 and received a liver transplant in Tennessee during medical leave between January and June 2009. He returned to the public in September 2009 looking gaunt but healthy.
The New York Times, citing "a person with knowledge of the situation," said Jobs suffers of immune system problems common with people who have received liver transplants and that his health has asked "highs and lows".
The announcement of the latest issues medical Jobs ' came with us markets closed for the holidays of Martin Luther King Jr. Shares of Apple fell in late 2008 when rumors about his health after roteate was able to show at Macworld Expo.
Apple's stock price has risen recently, however, the success of the iPhone and the iPad and in may, the company has surpassed Microsoft as the largest U.S. technology company in terms of market value.
The company is scheduled to release its fiscal 2011 first quarter results after the market close on Tuesday. Apple shares closed Friday at a record high of $ 348.48 on Wall Street.
Apple's fortunes have been linked to jobs, which is then returned to mark the company in 1997 after 12 years of absence and introduced innovative and wildly successful products such as iPod, iPhone and iPad.
Financial Times in Britain last month called the "person of the year" and also US President Barack Obama has joined in the Welcome to the Executive Director of gadget-maker based in Cupertino, California.
"We celebrate someone like Steve Jobs, who created two or three different revolutionary products," said Obama.
Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple in 1976 and has introduced the first Macintosh computer in 1984 with innovations such as the mouse.
Jobs left Apple in 1985 after an internal power struggle and started NeXT Computer and Pixar Academy-Award winning producer of animated film hits such as "Toy Story".
Since 1997 Jobs ' return, Apple has gone from strength to strength with the iMac in 1998, in 2001, the iPod, iTunes in 2003, the iPhone in 2007, the App Store in 2008 and last year's iPad.
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