Steve Jobs Denies Rumors of Apple CEO Replacement

Apple CEO Steve Jobs denied rumors that Apple is actively looking for a Jobs replacement.

The Wall Street Journal reported Apple was creating a short list of successors to replace Jobs, but the CEO and co-founder of Apple called the report “hogwash.” The Journal called the conversations about Jobs’s replacement “informal,” but even that was denied by Jobs.

To the Journal’s credit, there has been high speculation that Jobs will be leaving Apple due to his health. Despite Apple’s efforts to conceal information, Jobs’ bout with pancreatic cancer and recent liver transplant has led many to believe that Jobs will soon be replaced.  Jobs’ current medical leave from day-to-day activities has observers guessing that he may be dealing with reoccurrences of cancer or complications from the transplant.

Despite being on leave, he still appeared at the company’s World Wide Developers Conference in June to make product and software announcements.

For years, Jobs has been the brain at the center of Apple’s core. How would the company fare without their spiritual leader?  That remains to be seen. But it would be wise for Apple to make the public and share holders familiar and comfortable with his eventual replacement, before Jobs’ retires.