News Analysis: Apple Computer will look to a rising new generation of managers to ensure that the recent departure of two of the company"s three most prominent managers won"t spell the end to Apple"s vibrant growth.
The departure this year of two of the three most prominent executives at Apple Computer raises the question about whether the next generation of senior managers will have the talent and experience to keep the company on its current track of vibrant growth. Avadis "Avie" Tevanian, who shepherded the development of Mac OS X, and Jon Rubenstein, who oversaw much of the Macintosh hardware in recent years, have passed their responsibilities to others.
At some companies, such a loss of leadership could leave the company with a power vacuum or a lack of direction. However, Apple seems to be conscious that no single person—except, perhaps, CEO Steve Jobs himself—is irreplaceable, and that new talent can always be groomed for the future.