A well -deserved retirement for Art Levinson and Ronald Sugar
Art Levinson, Chairman of the Apple Board of Directors since 2011, will be 75 years old in March 2025. Former CEO and president of Genentech and currently this Calico Life Sciences (A subsidiary of alphabet dedicated to research on aging and human longevity), it plays a crucial role in Apple’s strategy. According to recent reports of Bloomberghis departure could be announced in February, on the occasion of the Annual Assembly of Apple shareholders, or materialize later in 2025, or even in early 2026.
Furthermore, Ronald Sugar, 76, former president and chief executive officer of Northrop Grumman Corporation and member of the Board of Directors for several years, could also soon be withdrawn. Holder of an electrical engineering doctorate, he has great experience in the management of complex companies and advanced technologies. Although he benefited from an exception to the age rule in March 2024 because of his significant contributions, his departure seems inevitable.
What future for Tim Cook?
The possible Levinson art retreat suggests several scenarios, in particular A possible succession by Tim Cook, currently CEO of Apple since August 24, 2011. As a reminder, he was appointed to this post by Steve Jobs, after his resignation for health reasons. This means that Tim Cook has been at the head of Cupertino for over 13 years. 64 years old, he could fully assume the role of chairman of the board of directors to gradually prepare for his own transition. Another possibility would be the appointment of a current member or a newcomer to the post of president.
But another very fashionable possibility could also be looming: the accumulation of mandates! Tim Cook could quite take on the role of president while remaining CEO. By way of comparison, Mark Zuckerberg (META) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft) currently occupy these two positions in their respective companies. In addition, Jeff Bezos showed a different path by becoming Amazon Executive President after withdrawing the role of CEO. With more than 25 years of experience at Apple, Mister Cook could opt for a similar transition.
-In recent years, The management of Tim Cook at Apple is often subject to debate, in particular concerning the question of innovation. Although he led the company to unprecedented financial summits, some criticisms believe that his mandate has marked a slowdown in the rhythm of revolutionary innovation that characterized the Steve Jobs era. The question of delay in the development of AI, the failure of certain products or the abandonment of major projects (the Apple Car) could notably be criticized for it soon.
These imminent departures and any redevelopments on the board of directors represent a strategic opportunity for Apple to strengthen its management and the orientation of its products. Whether it is to promote internal talents or recruit external experts, the company will have to maintain a balance between continuity and innovation to meet future challenges. These developments could shape the next decade of the company and its role in the world technological landscape.
