Former Apple Employee: 'I Think Tim Cook is a Lightweight'

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Posted November 9, 2012 at 2:16am by iClarified

David Sobotta, a former Apple sales executive from 1984 to 2004, slams Tim Cook in an interview with ReadWriteWeb.

Sobotta recently published 'The Pomme Company', a memoir of his time as director of Apple's federal sales group. During that time Tim Cook ran operations and became executive vice president of worldwide sales.

"Well, for starters, Cook is not a people person," Sobotta writes. "He certainly will not stand behind someone if the going gets rough. He is not that kind of guy. I sense no personal loyalty in him, and I suspect employees already understand that.

Referring to Cook and technology, Sobotta says,

"Technology-wise, I think Tim Cook is a lightweight. I never felt passion for technology from Tim like I did from Steve and some of the great engineers."

Sobotta also felt as though Tim was not a leader.

"I would expect that Tim is having a hard time herding the chickens. From what I saw of him, he was something of a loner. He is not a warm guy nor is he the type to go wandering the halls or Caffe Mac to find out what is happening. His preference is to tinker with spreadsheets and numbers. He is not a natural leader. He's a manager."

Cook has been under increased scrutiny following an executive shakeup that saw Scott Forstall and John Browett leave their posts at Apple.

More tidbits can be found at the link below.

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Former Apple Employee: 'I Think Tim Cook is a Lightweight'

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Brian - November 10, 2012 at 3:01am

There is no such thing as a perfect person to run the company, that's why you need a team to run the company. Yes, Tim might not be the same as Steve, but think about it this way. If Steve were to go his way of running the company without valuable advice from Tim, would Apple be better (and rich) than it is today? Similarly, I believe Tim knows he is not as innovative as Steve, so I hope that he trust the Engineers and designers with more creative freedom in coming up with what new toys. However, there's something that disturbs me, in that he's not a people person. I wonder if it's true, cuz the reason he sacked Scott Forstell is simply because he's backing Jony Ive and Bobs Mansfield, isn't it?

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verao - November 10, 2012 at 3:44am

I have a feeling that the other reason he fired Forstall, is because he is the only other guy who could be Apple's CEO, as he was very close to Steve, besides besides being the heart and lungs of iOS and Mac OSX, i.e, the heart and lungs of Apple.

Maldives - November 9, 2012 at 8:56pm

Call for Tim Cook's quick resignation. Those who love Apple products stand up for save Apple. Call for Tim Cook's Resignation.

Raf - November 9, 2012 at 5:14pm

Well duh. Have u seen his presentations? He's really lame. But apparently good at supply side stuff....

tdtran1025 - November 9, 2012 at 5:05pm

Cook: a genius bean counter, but a bean counter nonetheless. If only J Ive can be groomed to lead, the future of Apple will be safe.

Apple employee - November 9, 2012 at 4:46pm

I agree with these statement....the company has become such a mess ever since Steve passed away... We miss you dearly Steve...

Ben - November 9, 2012 at 2:27pm

To be honest, my feelings are that, in the phone world, a shake-up can only happen every so often. When the iPhone was created, there was a desperate necessity for a phone to be more than a phone, and for a human interface to be more than utter garbage. Apple saw these two needs, harnessed the technology available and created new ones when necessary, and made something revolutionary. Ever since, the iPhone changes have been evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, which is not an issue in my mind. Performance is top-notch and more importantly, user satisfaction is second to none. While I agree Apple is somewhat overdue for some innovation (as opposed to thinnovation), for an ENORMOUS company focusing on evolutionary technology, Cook is an excellent leader. Jobs did not surround himself with the second-best in the industry, and designs from Apple are continuously awe-inspiring - and who better to push those products out for global distribution in timely fashion than the former COO of Apple?

Blackapino - November 9, 2012 at 11:55am

I like Siri to be Honest and As for NFC if its SUCH a big Thing? Why hasn't the Industry Adopted it yet? I think Passbook is a start in that Direction but even Jobs said that the tech isn't just there. Why incorporate something into a phone that isn't going to be used just yet. As for the Mini well... I think it made sense for them to make one just not one of such low par tech. A non- retina display iPad is a step backwards IMP.

lepaka - November 9, 2012 at 7:52am

i agree 100%, to add, for what i can see, Tim is just a financial figure guy, he will do everything driven from the numbers and unfortunatly we already felt the technicaly he is a failure. I have been writting that if Tim goes ahead as a CEO of Apple, the company in 5 years maximum will be again dead to the world.

Eyez - November 9, 2012 at 5:47am

Simply put in five years apple just will not be the same company and I see there stocks going down. Because of all the patent issues And lawsuits. the disappointment in there maps app and the iPhone 5. Is a clear indication of what's coming ahead.

artemio - November 9, 2012 at 4:22am

Tim will never be Steve. No wonder according to CNET and one of the main companies that do the polls in the U.S show how loyalty towards the apple brand has gone down for the first time in 5 years. I have had every single iphone, and I really expected the iphone 5 to be a game changer.

Adam - November 9, 2012 at 4:39am

At this point, this long in the game, is there really any more game changers?

artemio - November 9, 2012 at 4:59am

It is missing NFC, more people than just me is asking for the bluetooth feature to be enabled with macs (Transfer music and videos), and I bet with tech nowadays there cold have been a lot of improvements on siri, which is garbage to me, since it does not even work half the time, to a point where Jack in the box makes fun of it in and ad. Who knows the ability to project videos on a wall or something, I don't know just something that would make samsung follow as they have done so far.

Macer - November 9, 2012 at 12:23pm

iPhone 5 is a game changer, I'm not trying to stand by Apple's side but studies shows that iPhone 5 is the fastest smartphone out there,

kuropanke@telus.net - November 9, 2012 at 4:20am

asdf - November 9, 2012 at 4:21am

Not standing on any side, but a product from R&D to manufacturing to marketing to consumers does not take couple months. Apple has up to 5 years of plans. What is released today was planned more than 2 years before. The difference would be slight schedule change and slight variation. Ipad 4 and Iphone 5 were already designed when Job was the CEO. Read some supply chain basic concept and you'll understand it.

pesto - November 9, 2012 at 5:16am

I am sorry are you talking cars or technology? 5 years is a strategy and basic concept. Developing new technological features happen very very quickly.

Ken - November 9, 2012 at 8:31am

So you have experience in this sort of thing? Please share your knowledge with the rest of us so we can better understand what is involved.

Macer - November 9, 2012 at 4:12am

Well, that guy left apple so what do u think he will have to say about it. His only options is to fire his mouth and make a bad person of Tim

Verao - November 9, 2012 at 3:41am

I agree! Having been following the tech industry for years, when a CEO, like him, fires heavy guns like that, is for sure to cover his inept behind. Apple's board is being really stupid to keep him there. Ultimately Tim Cook is the one responsible for the Maps debacle, the horrible dial pad, Siri, and Youtube! Steve Jobs would never have let this product out of the door. Tim should be able to KNOW what a good product is and innovate, but as we all know, he is incapable of it. Our loss.

Lumia1000 - November 9, 2012 at 3:19am

Very True!!!