Is it time for a new Apple CEO?
In a note to clients, LightShed analysts Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone wrote: 'Apple now needs a product-focused CEO, not one centered on logistics.' Current Apple CEO Time Cook spent 12 years in IBM's personal computer business and served as its director of North American fulfilment. He replaced Steve Jobs as Apple CEO in 2011.
'AI will reshape industries across the global economy, and Apple risks becoming one of its casualties,' according to Piecyk and Galone. 'Calling last year's WWDC simply a case of over-promising and under-delivering would be kind. Apple was nowhere with AI then, and little has changed since.'
The note was issued the same day Apple announced chief operating officer Jeff Williams is retiring later this year, with SVP operations Sabih Khan taking over as COO and Cook assuming direct oversight of the company's design team.
'Wall Street's read on the departure of Apple's COO is that it will cause little disruption,' the analysts stated. 'But isn't disruption exactly what Apple needs right now?'
They noted the tech giant could see diminished search payments from Google as it faces antitrust scrutiny while Apple's App Store is also under pressure from regulatory entities.
Piecyk and Galone credited Cook as 'the right CEO at the time of his appointment' and stated he 'unquestionably has done a great job.' They noted the company has sold over $2 trillion worth of iPhones with Cook at the helm.
'Missing on AI could fundamentally alter the company's long-term trajectory and ability to grow at all,' the analysts explained. 'This is a pivotal moment for Apple, it's time for more disruptive change, not less.'
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Apple
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