Steve Jobs, Apple Inc’s chief
executive officer (CEO), on Monday announced that he is taking another medical
leave, raising new concerns about the company’s future.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs poses with the new iPhone 4 during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California in this June 7, 2010 file photo. Apple Inc’s Steve Jobs said the board has granted him medical leave to concentrate on his health. During his leave of absence, Chief Operating Officer Tom Cook, will be responsible for day to day operations, the CEO said in a media statement January 17, 2011. (Xinhua/Reuters)

“At my request, the board of
directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my
health,” Jobs said in a brief email to all Apple employees, which was published
on the company’s website.

“I love Apple so much and hope to be
back as soon as I can,” Jobs said, without disclosing in detail about his health
conditions.

During his leave, Apple chief
operating officer Tim Cook will be responsible for all of the company’s day to
day operations, said Jobs, noting that he will continue as CEO and “be involved
in major strategic decisions for the company.”

“I have great confidence that Tim
and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing
the exciting plans we have in place for 2011,” Jobs said.

Jobs, 55, disclosed in August 2004
that he had been treated for a rare form of pancreatic cancer, saying the tumor
was diagnosed in time and he had undergone surgery to remove it.

In the following years, the thin,
almost gaunt appearance of Jobs constantly inspired speculations about his
health.

In early January 2009, Jobs said his
apparent weight loss is caused by a treatable hormone imbalance. But about a
week later, he admitted that the issue was more complex than he had thought and
then took a medical leave for nearly six months.

In June 2009, Methodist University
Hospital Transplant Institute in the U.S. state of Tennessee confirmed that Jobs
received a liver transplant at the institute.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet