American Fortune Life

The governance of the company by Apple's board of directors has always been the focus of attention from the outside world. In recent years, the company has faced issues ranging from option backdating to the mystery of Jobs' health and the cloud of uncertainty surrounding CEO succession planning.

Inside Apple, Jobs has long put pressure on the board. According to what Andy learned from many people, when Apple was in trouble in 1997, Jobs, who had been expelled from Apple earlier, proposed that one of the conditions for returning to the company was to require most of the company's directors to resign.

At the time, there were only two directors on Apple's board that Jobs asked to stay on. Once Jobs returned to Apple and took over the reins, he berated the old board for "screwing everything up."

Since then, Jobs has maintained a tight grip on the company, and directors have rarely challenged his actions. This problem became more apparent this year when Jobs kept his health under wraps.

After noticeably thinning, Jobs took nearly six months of medical leave beginning in early January 2009 with little explanation. The outside world, probably only Andy, knew that Jobs was preparing for a liver transplant, but Apple and investors didn't know the truth at all.

It can be seen to what extent Jobs has controlled Apple!

At present, most of the directors of Apple's board of directors are carefully selected by Jobs. Not only do they have no objection to Jobs, but some even admire Jobs very much, thinking that he is a genius.

Apple's board of directors currently has only six members including Jobs, the smallest board of directors among Fortune 500 companies. Although Apple continues to announce outstanding financial performance, investors have been urging Apple's directors to be more independent from the powerful Jobs.

An independent board represents the interests of shareholders and can challenge the CEO if needed.

Jeremy York, a senior director of Apple and chairman of the audit committee, was very disgusted with Jobs’s cover-up of the truth about his health. When he persuaded Andy on the phone, he said that the only reason he didn’t resign was because he didn’t want the outside world to speculate about his resignation. reason. To be very candid with Andy, I wish I had quit right then and there.

However, he also admitted that once he leaves, Apple's board of directors will have less power to monitor and restrain Jobs.

"...Andy, I sincerely hope that you can join the board of directors. Although it is only a part-time job in the nomination committee for the time being, your joining will also reassure shareholders and other investors..."

In the auditorium of Apple headquarters, Andy sat with many major shareholders, watching the six board members, three committee members and several independent directors, and listening to Cook, who was temporarily acting as Jobs, making a work report.

Andy glanced at Avon CEO Zhong Binxian who was sitting next to him. According to what York told him, although this Ms. Zhong didn't look very good, her ability and influence were extraordinary. She was not only an independent director of Apple , is also a director of GM, and this time he will be nominated as a member of the audit committee, which is completely different from his own shit nomination committee in terms of power.

It seemed that the other party also noticed Andy's gaze. The strong Chinese-American woman smiled and nodded at Andy, and Andy responded with a smile.

"...interesting."

Andy is like a bystander, looking at the few people who really control Apple in the middle of the field, their faces are solemn, and their brows are tightly frowned. From time to time, someone can look at Cook with strange eyes. He has heard of it before. Uncertain news, because of Jobs' sudden leave, although Jobs concealed his illness very well, there are still many speculations that his health condition is already very dangerous.

Some members of Apple's board have held discussions with headhunters about CEO succession and approached the head of at least one major technology company. Although it does not appear to be doing this on behalf of the entire board. But at least it is a signal that the board of directors does not buy the idea of ​​Jobs' choice of Cook as his successor.

This rumor even alarmed Jobs, who was recuperating from his illness. In an e-mail to the general meeting of shareholders, which was intentionally revealed to the outside world, he responded to this matter, saying, "It is meaningless to find a successor CEO." '

So, now Apple's board of directors is currently in a dilemma. If boards don't start actively searching for a CEO succession, problems will follow. But it can also cause problems if board members use this "informal" approach to finding successors.

Similarly, the most nervous, disturbing, and uncomfortable person is Cook who is reporting to the shareholders. Boss Joe doesn’t know how long he can last. He knows very well that without the support of Boss Joe, let alone the CEO’s The throne, even the current position may not be able to keep it, the sharks in the board of directors will tear him apart.

Boss Qiao was only on vacation, and this group of people started to make small movements, if they really couldn't get off the operating table. . .

Cook didn't dare to think about it.

"Papa papa—"

After the relatively warm applause, Cook stabilized his mind and continued the next process of the shareholders meeting, which was the addition of Apple's new directors. The chairman of the nomination committee responsible for director nomination and review took over the right to speak amidst warm applause.

"According to the nomination of Apple shareholders and the decision of the board of directors after discussion, Apple's board of directors formally invited Mr. Andy Smith to join Apple's board of directors as an independent director and serve as a member of the nominating committee.

Andy Smith, currently studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, founded the mockingjay game company in 2006, and served as the chairman of the Marvel Group since 2007, and created the Liberty City APP Mall, Muxica Cloud Computing Company, WhatsApp Company, INS company and other IT technology companies, served as chairman of NBC Universal and chairman of Qualcomm in 2008, and enjoys a high reputation in the high-tech and media fields. . . . . . "

The chairman of the nomination committee introduced the background of Andy Smith to all major shareholders, the board of directors, and Apple executives, and highly recognized Andy's talent and achievements.

"Andy Smith is an IT engineer first and a successful business leader, and we are delighted to have him join Apple's board of directors."

"Papa papa—"

With thunderous applause, Andy stood up, with a smile on his face, and nodded elegantly and calmly to the people around him, thanking them for their applause and support. Although the current Apple stock price is not too exaggerated, the shareholders who can sit here, Holding at least 1% of the shares means at least being a billionaire. Andy couldn't be indifferent to such a large group of billionaires and business representatives.

"Thank you, thank you for your support...Thank you..."

After four weeks of thanks, Andy smiled and shook hands with Apple's board members.

"Mr. Smith, you are welcome to join the Apple family, and I hope to have a pleasant cooperation in the future..."

"Thank you." Andy looked at Cook with a smile on his face and shook hands in thanks.

"Apple is a great company..." Andy, as a new director of Apple, began his 'testimonial', "...thanks to Apple's shareholders and the board of directors for inviting me, this is really a very satisfying I am delighted and excited to be invited, and I take my responsibilities as an independent director of Apple very seriously and have fully participated in the activities of the company's board of directors, thank you."

"Papa--"

There was applause again, and Andy bowed slightly to thank, and then sat in the seat of Apple's board of directors, and then Andy just looked at Avon's CEO Ms. To be honest, Andy really admires this Chinese woman, a Chinese-American woman from a middle-class family, who broke the so-called glass ceiling. Anyone who has a deep understanding of American society knows how difficult it is. It can even be said to be a miracle.

'. . . She really shines, and I think we've found a great co-director. '

"hehe yes."

Andy nodded in agreement, and the chairman of the nomination committee sitting beside him smiled and sighed in a low voice, but he complained in his heart. He really doesn't understand the aesthetics of the East and the West. Is it really that different?

No, at least my own aesthetics are normal, and I don’t have the kind of face blindness that Easterners see Westerners. Look at the goddesses I have tasted, which one is not a beauty recognized by both the East and the West?

Tut tut.

A group of people who have never seen the world. . .

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