Was Steve Jobs the greatest CEO of all time?
I have to admit, I’m a little biased here. I’m not a fan of Apple but I will root for Steve Jobs any time of the day. The man has the audacity of John D. Rockefeller, the ruthlessness of Jack Welch, the vision of Henry Ford, and the charm and creativity all of his own. How’d a hippie become so cool is beyond me.
After his resignation, yummy Amanda Drury and the rest of the CNBC talking heads asked where he would be on the all-time CEO rankings. Top 5? Top 3? Performance-wise, he’s leaving AAPL as the most valuable company in the world, having increased its market cap over $250 Billion since his return in ’97 and he topped it off with a $144 Million increase in net income during his last quarter. More importantly though, he changed the world when he created the Apple II, so he should be way up there in the top 5 along with Ford, Rockefeller, Sloan, and Morgan if you ask me.
How about you monkeys? What do you think? Should he be #1?
Putting him at third behind John D and Ford.
Video of the cleave after the jump.
He's increased the market cap by 150B in just the last two years. Since his return he's taken the company from 5B to over 300B.
In before some 15 year old mentions a PE fund or Bank CEO
I said over 150B. Jeez.
Haha. Good catch bro, fixing it now.
Last 20/25 years:
1)Steve Jobs 1a) Bill Gates 2) Howard Schultz of Starbucks
Alltime:
1) John D 2) Henry ford Jobs, Morgan, and Carnegie in no particular order
Jobs is a very strong leader, but Jack Welch, Jamie Diamond, Richard Gates, Colin Powell, Warren Buffett, and even John Thain have all made much stronger C-level executives than Jobs. Jobs has always had a certain rigidity and a bit of insecurity when someone comes up with an idea that might be better than his if you talk to a lot of the folks who worked for him in the '80s. But on the design and thought leadership front, it's hard to come up with a better leader than Jobs.
I'll take Lee Raymond.
Depends on what you think the CEO's role should be. If Apple completely falls apart in the next few years does that make him a good CEO? He's done miraculous things since he's returned no doubt but I always think of continunity; especially if from the corporation as an undying entity viewpoint.
Edit: It may just end up being a conincidence with dude leaving but I don't see Apple coming out with anything mindblowing or "innovative" in the near future that really fits into their existing line. This may end up being the point in time where Apple branches out a bit.
I vote yes. I think he's also a testament to the supremecy of the American economy and the greatness of America in general. No where else on Earth could someone like Jobs come along.
The same thing could be said about every other notable "best ever" type CEO. They are all products of the greatest country on the face of the Earth.
^^^ Well put.
" People call me a Zenophobe but I just think that America is the greatest country in the world and all the other country's just aren't as good. That used to be called Patriotism."
-Kenny Powers The MFN CEO
No.
Patrick Curtis is.
3
I prefer Mohammad Ali's quote to a Russian Journalist when the reporter asked, "What do you think about America?" In an attempt to get this sports legend to speak ill of his own nation at the height of the Cold War. Mohammad Ali responded simply, "America is the greatest country in the world, including yours."
I've never heard that before, but I like it.
I would say... Tony Fernandez of AirAsia
Steve Jobs has been getting some pretty good lip service from WSO lately. WHO CARES! ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THAT MY OPTIONS GO ITM.
Top 10? Yes. Greatest CEO? No.
However, pretty remarkable what he has done in today's American culture especially in the way he did it. Not many like him around anymore.
Not enough time has passed. We have to see whether his accomplishments have the enduring quality that others have had.
Steve Jobs... is comparable to ... Michael Jordan
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