Apple CEO Tim Cook has said he ‘probably’ won’t be with the company in 10 years’ time in a new interview with Kara Swisher for The New York Times.
The piece, which focuses on Apple’s privacy policies, the new App Tracking Transparency features with iOS 14.5, and more ends with Cook admitting that he will likely step down as chief executive officer, a role he has had since August 2011, over the next 10 years.
When asked about the next 10 years, Cook says: “Ten more years? Probably not. But I can tell you that I feel great right now and the date is not in sight. But ten more years is a long time — and probably not ten more years.” When asked how Cook would spent his time out of Apple, he said: “I don’t have a clue because I love this company so much, that it is hard to imagine my life without it. And so I don’t think I will know that until after I’m not here. Because I think I will run so fast that I’ll never really think about it until I’m not running anymore. Does that make any sense?”
Tim Cook is 60 years old and likely is beginning to think about retirement. It is believed that Cook recently became a billionaire, as Apple’s market value reached $2 trillion, with the CEO previously saying that he plans to use his wealth to provide a college education for his nephew, with plans to continue to donate money to charities close to his heart.
Cook joined Apple in 1998 after being head-hunted by Steve Jobs for the role of senior vice president of worldwide. Cook then later transitioned into the role of lead operations and served as chief executive in 2009, while Jobs was away on a leave of absence for health-related issues.
With Cook saying a “date is not in sight,” it doesn’t seem that his departure from Apple is imminent however, reports last year claimed that the company was drafting plans for potential successors for the CEO position when Cook eventually leaves.