Timothy Donald Cook
Timothy Donald Cook (born November 1, 1960) is a prominent American business executive who is best known as the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apple Inc.. Cook succeeded Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, after working closely with him as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Early Life and Education
Cook was born in the city of Mobile, Alabama, and grew up in the nearby town of Robertsdale. He was baptized in a Baptist church and was raised in a working-class family. His father, Donald Cook, was a shipyard worker while his mother, Geraldine Cook, worked in a pharmacy.
Cook attended Auburn University in Alabama, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1982. He later earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in 1988.
Career at Apple Inc.
Before joining Apple, Cook had an extensive career in the technology sector. He worked at IBM for 12 years, primarily in the Personal Computer (PC) division, and later served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Reseller Division at Intelligent Electronics. He also spent six months at Compaq as Vice President of Corporate Materials.
Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as Senior Vice President for Worldwide Operations. He played a crucial role in restructuring Apple's operations and supply chain, which significantly improved the company's profitability and efficiency. His success in these areas led to his appointment as Executive Vice President and later, COO.
Throughout his tenure at Apple, Cook has been instrumental in the development and launch of key products, including the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. His leadership has also seen Apple become a major force in the global market with significant expansions in services like the App Store, iCloud, and Apple Music.
Leadership Style and Public Advocacy
Tim Cook is known for his thoughtful and methodical leadership style, prioritizing supply chain management as a core strength of Apple's business model. Under his leadership, Apple has emphasized environmental responsibility and corporate social responsibility, committing to initiatives like transitioning the company to 100% renewable energy.
Cook has also been vocal on various social issues, including privacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration reform. In September 2017, at Bloomberg's Global Business Forum, Cook defended the DACA immigration program, expressing his dissatisfaction with the direction of Donald Trump's administration, stating: "This is unacceptable."