Apple success linked to more than just Steve Jobs

By Scott Hillis - Analysis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The thought of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) without Chief Executive Steve Jobs spooks many investors, but his absence might not spell long-term disaster for the innovation machine behind the iPod and iPhone.

The issue came into focus early last week after Jobs's gaunt appearance at a conference raised questions about the health of the man who revitalized Apple and is widely thought to be irreplaceable.

Blogs and industry watchers wondered if Jobs, 53, was suffering complications from, or a reappearance of, the pancreatic cancer cured by surgery nearly four years ago. Apple said last week that Jobs was fighting a "common bug" and was taking antibiotics.

Apple spokespersons were not immediately available on Friday to comment when asked for an update on Jobs' health.

As valuable as Jobs is, respect for the executive team he has assembled runs high, and Apple could quickly bounce back if Jobs were to leave for whatever reason.

"Jobs has so effectively turned his charisma and personality traits into business processes of Apple that he could easily step away and the company would continue to function quite well without him," said Leander Kahney, editor of Wired.com and author of "Inside Steve's Brain," a book about the Apple leader.

Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, whose laconic Southern style distinguishes him from the intense Jobs, has won praise from analysts for his firm grasp of day-to-day operations, and is thought to be a likely successor.

Jobs may be the public face of products like the iPod, but it is Apple's top-flight design team led by Jonathan Ives that is responsible for the iconic shapes of the company's computers and gadgets.