CEO Today Top 50 – Tim Cook

Name: Tim Cook

Net worth: $2.2 billion Executive pay: $63 million

Company: Apple

Bio: Timothy Donald Cook, born on November 1, 1960, is an American business executive currently serving as the chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Prior to his role as CEO, Cook held the position of chief operating officer under the company’s co-founder, Steve Jobs. Cook began his journey with Apple in March 1998 as a senior vice president for worldwide operations, later transitioning to executive vice president for worldwide sales and operations. Following Jobs’ resignation due to illness in October 2011, Cook was appointed as the chief executive on August 24, 2011. Throughout his time as CEO, Cook has been a vocal advocate for political reform in areas such as international and domestic surveillance, cybersecurity, American manufacturing, and environmental conservation.

Timothy Donald Cook was born in Mobile, Alabama on November 1, 1960. He was baptized in a Baptist church and spent his childhood in Robertsdale, located nearby. His father, Donald Cook, worked in a shipyard, while his mother, Geraldine Cook, was employed at a pharmacy.

In 1982, Tim Cook attained a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Auburn University, and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in 1988.

Steve Jobs asked Tim Cook to join Apple in 1998, where he first served as Senior Vice President for worldwide operations.

After Jobs resigned as CEO and became Chairman of the board, Cook was named the new Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. in August 2011.

Tim Cook, consistently starts sending emails at 4:30 am every weekday, and previously conducted Sunday-night staff meetings over the phone to plan for the upcoming week. In May 2013, Cook emphasized that his leadership revolves around people, strategy, and execution, stating, “If you get those three right, the world is a great place.”

He was named the Financial Times’ Person of the Year in 2014, then received the Ripple of Change Award and the Human Rights’ Campaign’s Visibility Award in 2015.

Quote: “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Tom Cook