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Tim Cook: The New Face of Apple

Aug 25 2011

Back to: Apple: Full Coverage

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The Tim Cook Story

Apple closed one chapter and began scripting a new one on Wednesday, as Steve Jobs announced his resignation and COO Tim Cook moved up to his new role as chief executive. And while we know just about all there is to know about the former, the latter has mostly evaded the public spotlight. So who exactly is the new leader of the most valuable company in the world, and how did he get here? We take a look back at Cook's road to Apple CEO.





Text by John Harrison
Image courtesy of Apple
Background and Education

Tim Cook was raised in Robertsdale, Alabama, where he got his start in the working world by delivering newspapers for the local Press-Register. Cook graduated from Robertsdale High School in 1978, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University and his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University (pictured left) in 1988.







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Fast Start at IBM

After graduating from Auburn, Cook spent 12 years working for IBM Corporation just outside Raleigh, North Carolina. As director of North American fulfillment, he managed manufacturing and distribution functions for the company's personal computer operations in North and Latin America.









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Intelligent Electronics and Compaq

Cook left IBM in 1994 to join a computer wholesaler called Intelligent Electronics, based in Exton, Pennsylvania. He became COO of the company's wholesale division before it was sold to Ingram Micro in 1997. His next move took him to Compaq, where he served as VP of Corporate Materials.









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Apple Comes Calling

Steve Jobs hired Cook in 1998 to overhaul Apple's then disastrous manufacturing, distribution, and supply operations. Cook cleaned up the mess by closing the company's factories and warehouses around the world, and, as a result, he is credited with significantly improving Apple's profit margins heading into the new millennium.








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Nike Welcomes Cook

Cook—who regularly sports the same turtleneck-jeans-sneakers combination as Jobs, but with Nike shoes instead of New Balance—took a seat on the board at Nike in 2005. He joined Jobs as the only Apple execs to sit on an outside board and contributes in the company's marketing and development projects.








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Apple's New CEO

Cook became Apple's chief operating officer in 2007 and spent most of his time managing the company's supply chains, sales, and support services. He took over operations three times—in 2004, 2007, and 2011—while Jobs took leave to battle pancreatic cancer. Then, on August 24, 2011, following Jobs resignation, Cook was appointed Apple's new CEO.







Image courtesy of Apple
"Most Powerful Gay Man"

When Jobs handed over day-to-day management duties to Cook, writers delved into a little-known aspect about Apple's new face man. Cook is gay and out, but not vocal about it. Gawker hung the "power gay" label on him in January, and went further when he became CEO. "He's also gone from being the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley to the most powerful gay man in the world, bar none," the website declared.






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