Jobs has long been a bigger than life figure inside and away from company he co-founded, even though for years he had been surrounded by superb talent who deserve a minimum of some credit for runaway successes like the iPad, iPhone and iPod
Enter recently minted CEO Tim Cook, design guru Jonathan Ive, mobile software guru Scott Forstall as well as product marketing maestro Phil Schiller. The quartet have stayed within the wings for years, operating in family member anonymity.
But within the tightly knit Silicon Area community, they have built formidable reputations within their fields. With Jobs' departure, they now have a chance to take center stage, former Apple professionals and experts said.
In June, JC Penney Co Inc announced this lured away Apple retail chief Ron Johnson to be its CEO and some weeks later news emerged that veteran lawyer Chip Lutton can also be planning to leave. Rumors surface sporadically that Ive might go back to his native Britain, although they haven't been corroborated.
Jobs' stepping down "may give this option more freedom to make decisions on their own, " said David Hornik, a companion at August Capital, about the best tier.
Jane Stevenson, vice chairman associated with board and CEO services at professional recruiting firm Korn/Ferry International, agrees.
"When a powerful person steps out, it's an chance of others to step up, " your woman said. "And I think this is a good opportunity in many ways because Steve remains as chairman. "
Those who have known or worked with a few of these executives describe the team and talent at Apple using terms for example "brilliant" and "very close. "
London native Ive -- Jony to many people -- is particularly known as a "genius" and a "dreamer. inch
Known as a confidant of Work, the soft-spoken Ive has led Apple's style team since 1996 and was one of the few who survived brutal staff slashes Jobs made when he returned in order to Apple in late 1997.
"Ive may be involved in every dramatic device Apple has been doing for a decade, " said the former Apple executive in products as well as marketing. "He looks at things in a different way always. Going into Jonathan's design laboratory was always fun. "
SUPPORTING THROW
Then there's software chief Forstall, the architect from the iOS software that powers over 100 zillion iPhones.
Marketing head Schiller is a normal stand-in for Jobs at launch occasions. Some of the products he has shepherded range from the iMac, the iPod, Safari Web browser and also the iPhone.
Other top executives include experienced Eddy Cue, who rose to dominance by managing the iTunes and Application stores, and Jeff Williams, who heads the business's supply-chain operations.
That sort of bench strength underscores Jobs' reputation for surrounding himself using the best people in any field.
"One of Steve's greatest assets is every single child detect and find talent, " stated Jay Elliot, a former Apple older vice president who worked closely along with Jobs. "All along, he has always been able in order to sniff out what people's real talent is and what they are really good at. "
Apple's talent bench attracts recruiters for others, but few have succeeded in luring anybody from top management until recently.
Change at the very top might spur some veterans to consider new careers, executive recruiters said. But the majority of the top people reporting to Cook are required to stay to help Apple with the transition and support their new BOSS, who has worked closely with Ive, Forstall yet others.
"At the point of such critical transition, if someone cares about the organization and cares about Steve -- because he's still there -- they're probably not going to want in order to leave, " Stevenson of Korn/Ferry stated.
Most of the top-tier executives have been working with the expectation Jobs might eventually step aside. But the proceed still made them "very sad, inch the former Apple product and advertising executive said.
"All are really busy and happy concerning the stuff they're doing, " the individual said. "I feel strongly they will continue to do extremely well for a long period. It's the kind of company that individuals get very committed to. ".