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Tim Cook to Apple employees: ‘Apple is not going to change’

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Tim Cook’s first move as Apple’s new CEO reportedly was to send an email to Apple employees to say that the world’s largest technology firm ‘is not going to change.’

Cook sent out an email on Thursday morning, hours after Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive and was appointed chairman and Cook was voted in by Apple’s board to take the reins, according to the tech news site ArsTechnica.

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The email both praises Jobs and seeks to reassure Apple employees that the future of the company is a bright one and that indeed Jobs will be able to significantly contribute as chairman.

Here is the full email as reported by ArsTechnica:

Team: I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future. Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman. I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do. I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is. Tim

Cook has been running Apple’s day to day operations since January, when Jobs took a leave of absence due to health concerns. Though Cook has been largely running Apple since then, Jobs retained the title of CEO until Wednesday when he resigned.

Photos: Steve Jobs and Apple’s influence

Cook has served as Apple’s chief operating officer for years and is known as the man behind Apple’s tight relationships with suppliers, which allow Apple to bring products to market quickly while maintaining the company’s high profit margins.

He’s also stepped in to run Apple as Jobs has taken medical leaves twice before in 2004 and 2009.

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It was Cook who ran Apple’s shareholder meeting in February when a small group of shareholders wanted to see Apple’s succession plan for Jobs -- which ended up being a plan to name Cook as CEO as has been done. And it was Cook who Apple sent to China last year after the manufacturer Foxconn, which assembles Apple’s iPhone, dealt with employee suicides.

Previously, Cook was the vice president of corporate materials at Compaq Computer Corp. and the head of manufacturing and distribution for IBM Corp.’s personal computer business in North and Latin America.

He has an MBA from Duke University and received his bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University. He’s also a big Auburn football fan.

Now Cook’s largest responsibility is upon him -- taking over for one of the most important industry leaders of our time, in a class with Bill Gates, Walt Disney and Henry Ford.

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-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

twitter.com/nateog

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