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{{Other people|Tim Cook}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Tim Cook
|image = Tim Cook 2009 cropped.jpg
|birth_name = Timothy Donald Cook
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|1}}
|birth_place = [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]], U.S.
|residence = [[Palo Alto, California]], U.S.
|employer = {{plainlist|
*[[IBM]] {{small|(1982–1994)}}
*Intelligent Electronics {{small|(1994–1998)}}
*[[Compaq]] {{small|(1998)}}
*[[Apple Inc.]] {{small|(1998–present)}}}}
Board of [[Nike Inc.]]
|education = [[Auburn University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])}}<br>[[Duke University]] {{small|([[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])}}
|salary = [[United States dollar|US$]] 10.3 million (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000119312516422528/d79474ddef14a.htm |title=DEF 14A |date=February 26, 2016 |website=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]}}</ref>
|net_worth = US$ 785 million (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fortune.com/2015/03/26/tim-cook/ |title=Apple's Tim Cook leads different |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date=March 26, 2015 |website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
|signature = Tim Cook Signature.svg
}}
'''Timothy Donald Cook''' (born November 1, 1960)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/110498/who-is-apples-new-ceo-tim-cook-bio/ |title=Who Is Apple's New CEO Tim Cook? [Bio] |last=Brownlee |first=John |date=August 25, 2011 |website=[[Apple community#Other sites|Cult of Mac]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> is an American business executive and [[Industrial engineering|industrial engineer]]. Cook is the [[chief executive officer|Chief Executive Officer]] of [[Apple Inc.]], and previously served as the company's [[Chief operating officer|Chief Operating Officer]] under its founder [[Steve Jobs]].<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Cotton |first1=Katie |last2=Dowling |first2=Steve |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple: Tim Cook Named CEO and Jobs Elected Chairman of the Board |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2011/08/24Steve-Jobs-Resigns-as-CEO-of-Apple/ |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as a [[Vice president|senior vice president]] for worldwide operations, and then served as the [[Vice president#Hierarchy of vice presidents|Executive Vice President]] for worldwide sales and operations.<ref name="people.forbes.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/tim-cook/ |title=Tim Cook |website=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> He was made the Chief Executive on August 24, 2011, prior to Jobs' death in October of that year.<ref name="nike2">{{cite web |url=http://investors.nikeinc.com/investors/corporate-governance/?toggle=directors |title=Investor Relations – Investors – Corporate Governance |website=[[Nike, Inc.]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> During his tenure as the Chief Executive, he has advocated for the political reformation of international and domestic surveillance, [[Computer security|cybersecurity]], [[Corporate tax in the United States|corporate taxation]], American manufacturing, and [[environmental preservation]].
In 2014, Cook became the first Chief Executive of a [[Fortune 500]] company to publicly come out as gay.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/apple-s-tim-cook-is-first-fortune-500-to-come-out-as-gay-350111811811 |title=Apple's Tim Cook Is First Fortune 500 to Come Out as Gay |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=October 30, 2014 |website=[[NBCNews.com]]}}</ref> Cook also serves on the boards of directors of [[Nike, Inc.]],<ref name="nike2"/> the [[National Football Foundation]],<ref name="NFF">{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfoundation.org/News/NewsDetail/tabid/567/Article/51174/nff-board-member-tim-cook-named-ceo-of-apple.aspx |title=NFF Board Member Tim Cook Named CEO of Apple |date=August 25, 2011 |website=[[National Football Foundation]]}}</ref> and is a trustee of [[Duke University]].<ref name="DU-BoT">{{cite web |url=https://trustees.duke.edu/trustees/tim-cook-b%E2%80%9988 |title=Tim Cook B'88 |website=[[Duke University]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> In March 2015, he said he planned to donate his entire stock fortune to [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/26/tim-cook-apple-donate-800m-fortune-charity |title=Tim Cook plans to donate $800m fortune to charity before he dies}}</ref> The research published at the [[University of Oxford]] characterized Cook's leadership style as paradigmatic of founder centrism: explained as a founder's mindset, an ethical disposition towards the shareholder collective, and an intense focus on exponential value creation.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|last1=Rojas|first1=Claudio|title=Eclipse of the Public Corporation Revisited: Concentrated Equity Ownership Theory|url=https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/business-law-blog/blog/2017/06/eclipse-public-corporation-revisited-concentrated-equity-ownership|publisher=The University of Oxford|accessdate=June 27, 2017}} ("Founder centrism, an inclusive concept within Concentrated Equity Ownership (CEO) theory, integrates the capacity of both founder and non-founder senior leadership to adopt an owner's mindset in traditionally structured corporations, such as Thomas J. Watson Sr. and Thomas Watson Jr. with IBM, Steve Jobs and Tim Cook with Apple, Jamie Dimon with JPMorgan Chase, Lloyd Blankfein with Goldman Sachs... and many others. In substance, all fall within the ambit of founder centrism".)</ref>
==Early life and education==
Cook was born in [[Mobile, Alabama]], United States.<ref name="AL.com-Robertsdale">Michael Finch II: [http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/tim_cook_--_apple_ceo_and_robe.html ''Tim Cook – Apple CEO and Robertsdale's favorite son – still finds time to return to his Baldwin County roots.''] AL.com, February 24, 2014.</ref> He was baptized in a [[Baptist]] church<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=Tim |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pro-discrimination-religious-freedom-laws-are-dangerous-to-america/2015/03/29/bdb4ce9e-d66d-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html |title=Tim Cook: Pro-discrimination 'religious freedom' laws are dangerous |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 29, 2016 |accessdate=November 27, 2016}}</ref> and grew up in nearby [[Robertsdale, Alabama|Robertsdale]]. His father, Donald, was a [[shipyard]] worker, and his mother, Geraldine, worked at a pharmacy.<ref name="AL.com-Robertsdale" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/tim_cook_--_apple_ceo_and_robe.html|title=Tim Cook – Apple CEO and Robertsdale's favorite son – still finds time to return to his Baldwin County roots|work=AL.com}}</ref>
Cook graduated from [[Robertsdale High School]]. He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]]<nowiki/> (B.S.) in [[industrial engineering]] from [[Auburn University]] in 1982,<ref>[http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2011/08/portrait-of-new-apple-ceo-tim-cook-as-a-young-auburn-student/#.VEGJW-fOSDo Portrait of New Apple CEO Tim Cook as a Young Auburn Student]: The War Eagle Reader</ref> and his [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) from [[Duke University]]'s [[Fuqua School of Business]] in 1988.<ref name=dukenews>{{cite news|url=http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2009/01/15/fuqua-grad-takes-reins-apple|title=Fuqua grad takes reins at Apple|last=Love|first=Julia|work=[[The Chronicle (Duke University)]]|date=January 14, 2009|accessdate=February 11, 2011}}</ref>
==Career==
===Pre-Apple era===
After graduating from Auburn University in 1982, Cook spent 12 years in [[IBM]]'s personal computer business, ultimately serving as the director of North American fulfillment.<ref name="people.forbes.com"/> It was during this time that Cook also earned his MBA from [[Duke University]], becoming a Fuqua Scholar in 1988. Later, he served as the [[chief operating officer|Chief Operating Officer]] of the computer reseller division of Intelligent Electronics, and in 1997 became the Vice President for Corporate Materials at [[Compaq]] for six months.<ref name="CNN Money">{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/24/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index3.htm?iid=EL|work=CNN|title=The genius of Steve|date=August 24, 2011|accessdate=October 4, 2013}}</ref>
===Apple era===
====Early career====
In 1998, [[Steve Jobs]] asked Tim Cook to join Apple. In a [[commencement speech]] at [[Auburn University]], Cook said he decided to join Apple after meeting Jobs for the first time:
{{quote|Any purely rational consideration of cost and benefits lined up in Compaq's favor, and the people who knew me best advised me to stay at Compaq... On that day in early 1998 I listened to my intuition, not the left side of my brain or for that matter even the people who knew me best... no more than five minutes into my initial interview with Steve, I wanted to throw caution and logic to the wind and join Apple. My intuition already knew that joining Apple was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for the creative genius, and to be on the executive team that could resurrect a great American company.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=Tim|title=Commencement Address at Auburn University, 20110|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1776338/tim-cook-apple-ceo-auburn-university-commencement-speech-2010|publisher=Fast Co Design}}</ref>|sign=|source=}}
His first position was [[vice president|Senior Vice President]] for worldwide operations.<ref name="people.forbes.com"/> In relation to the role, Cook was quoted as saying: "You kind of want to manage it like you're in the dairy business. If it gets past its freshness date, you have a problem".<ref name="cnnnov2008">{{cite news|first=Adam|last=Lashinsky|url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/09/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index.htm|work=CNN|title=The genius behind Steve|date=November 10, 2008|accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Tim Cook WWDC 2012.jpg|thumb|Cook giving the [[keynote]] at the [[Apple Worldwide Developers Conference|2012 World Wide Developers Conference]].]]
Cook closed factories and warehouses, and replaced them with contract manufacturers; this resulted in a reduction of the company's inventory from months to days. Predicting its importance, his group invested in long-term deals such as advance investment in [[flash memory]] from 2005 onward, guaranteeing stable supply of what became a key [[iPod Nano]], then [[iPhone]] and [[iPad]] component. Competitors at [[Hewlett-Packard]], describing their cancelled [[TouchPad]] tablet computer, later said that it was made from "cast-off reject iPad parts".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ziegler|first1=Chris|title=Pre to postmortem: the inside story of the death of Palm and webOS|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/5/3062611/palm-webos-hp-inside-story-pre-postmortem|website=The Verge|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> Cook's actions were credited with keeping costs under control and, combined with the company's design and marketing savvy, generated huge profits.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/09/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index.htm|work=CNN|first=Adam|last=Lashinsky|title=The genius behind Steve|date=November 10, 2008}}</ref>
In January 2007, Cook was promoted to lead operations<ref>{{cite news|last=Helft|first=Miguel|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/technology/24cook.html?pagewanted=all|title=The Understudy Takes the Stage at Apple|work=The New York Times|date=January 23, 2011|accessdate=February 11, 2011}}</ref> and served as Chief Executive in 2009, while Jobs was away on a leave of absence for health related issues. In January 2011, Apple's board of directors approved a third medical leave of absence requested by Jobs. During that time, Cook was responsible for most of Apple's day-to-day operations, while Jobs made most major decisions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12205173|title=Apple boss Steve Jobs takes 'medical leave'|work=BBC News|date=January 17, 2011|accessdate=February 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Rob">{{cite web|author1=Robin Ferracone|title=An Outsider's View of Apple's Succession Plan|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinferracone/2011/09/13/an-outsiders-view-of-apples-succession-plan-3/|website=Forbes.com|publisher=Forbes LLC|accessdate=August 25, 2014|date=September 13, 2011}}</ref>
====Apple chief executive (2011–present)====
After Jobs resigned as CEO and became chairman of the board, Cook was named the new Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. on August 24, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/us-apple-idUSTRE77N82K20110824|title=Steve Jobs resigns from Apple, Cook becomes CEO|agency=Reuters|date=August 24, 2011|accessdate=August 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116096027141893457 |title=Apple's no. 2 has low profile, high impact|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Nick|last=Wingfield|date=October 16, 2006|accessdate=October 16, 2006}}</ref> Six weeks later, on October 5, 2011, Jobs died due to complications from [[pancreatic cancer]].<ref name="gizmododaybeforehedied">{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/5851475/steve-jobs-worked-the-day-before-he-died|title=Steve Jobs Worked the Day Before He Died|work=Gizmodo|date=October 19, 2011|accessdate=October 21, 2011|author=Biddle, Sam|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/68egBhxkQ?url=http://gizmodo.com/5851475/steve-jobs-worked-the-day-before-he-died|archivedate=June 24, 2012|deadurl=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Forbes'' contributor Robin Ferracone wrote in September 2011: "Jobs and Cook proceeded to forge a strong partnership, and rescued the company from its death spiral, which took it from $11 billion in revenue in 1995 down to less than $6 billion in 1998 ... Under their leadership, the company went from its nadir to a remarkable $100 billion today".<ref name="Rob" />{{Better source|reason=Forbes contributors do not have editorial oversight.|date=January 2018}} In April 2012, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' included Cook on its annual "100 Most Influential People in the World" list.<ref name="Time2012">{{cite news|title=The 100 Most Influential People in the World|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112101,00.html|accessdate=August 15, 2012|newspaper=Time|date=April 12, 2012}}</ref>
On October 29, 2012, Cook made major changes to the company's executive team. [[Scott Forstall]] resigned as senior vice president of [[iOS]], and became an advisor to Cook until he eventually departed from the company in 2013. [[John Browett]], who was Senior VP of retail, was dismissed six months after he commenced at Apple, when he received 100,000 shares worth US$60 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cultofmac.com/163180/apple-welcomes-new-retail-vp-john-browett-with-60-million-in-stock/|author=Alex Heath|title=Apple Welcomes New Retail VP John Browett With $60 Million In Stock|work=Cult Of Mac|date=April 25, 2012|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Forstall's duties were divided among four other Apple executives: design SVP [[Sir Jonathan Ive]] assumed leadership of Apple's human interface team; [[Craig Federighi]] became the new head of iOS software engineering; services chief [[Eddy Cue]] became responsible for Maps and Siri; and [[Bob Mansfield]], previously SVP of hardware engineering, became the head of a new technology group.<ref name="applepr">{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/29Apple-Announces-Changes-to-Increase-Collaboration-Across-Hardware-Software-Services.html|title=Apple Announces Changes to Increase Collaboration Across Hardware, Software & Services|publisher=Apple Inc.|date=October 29, 2012|accessdate=October 29, 2012}}</ref>
Cook's executive changes occurred after the third quarter of the [[fiscal year]], when revenues and profits grew less than predicted.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arthur|first=Charles|title=Apple's Tim Cook shows ruthless streak in firing maps and retail executives|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/30/apple-tim-cook-ruthless-streak|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 30, 2012|location=London}}</ref> One commentator said that Forstall was forced to step down, as Cook "decided to lance the boil as internal politics and dissent reached a key pitch". Since becoming CEO, Cook focused upon building a harmonious culture that meant "weeding out people with disagreeable personalities—people Jobs tolerated and even held close, like Forstall";<ref>{{cite news|title=This is Tim Cook's Apple: A Company Where 'Mini-Steve' Gets the Axe|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2012/10/30/this-is-tim-cooks-apple-a-company-where-mini-steve-gets-the-axe|work=Forbes|date=October 30, 2012|accessdate=May 2, 2013|first=Erika|last=Morphy}}</ref>{{Better source|reason=Forbes contributors do not have editorial oversight.|date=January 2018}} although, another journalist said that "Apple's ability to innovate came from tension and disagreement."<ref>{{cite news|author=Jay Yarow|title=Fired Apple Executive Scott Forstall 'Was The Best Approximation Of Steve Jobs That Apple Had Left'|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-employee-why-firing-scott-forstall-was-a-mistake-2012-11|work=Business Insider|date=November 12, 2012|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> On February 28, 2014, Cook made headlines when he challenged shareholders to "get out of the stock" if they didn't share the company's views on sustainability and climate change.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple's Tim Cook picks a fight with climate change deniers|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/01/apple-cook-shareholders-sustainability/|accessdate=March 1, 2014|newspaper=CNN|date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> In May 2016, Cook traveled to [[People's Republic of China|China]] to meet with government officials there after the closure of Apple's online iTunes Store and iBooks store by the Chinese government.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vincent |first=James |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/6/11606412/apple-china-books-movies-tim-cook-visit |title=Tim Cook reportedly traveling to China following closure of Apple's online stores |website=The Verge |date=May 6, 2016 |accessdate=November 27, 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, some analysts compared Cook to former [[Microsoft]] CEO [[Steve Ballmer]], claiming that innovation had died down since he replaced Jobs, similar to when Ballmer became Microsoft CEO in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/10/25/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ballmer/|title=Why Tim Cook is Steve Ballmer|date=October 26, 2016|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cio.com/article/3170935/leadership-management/apple-is-tim-cook-turning-into-steve-ballmer.html|title=Apple: Is Tim Cook turning into Steve Ballmer?|first=Jim|last=Lynch|publisher=}}</ref> In December 2017, Cook was a speaker at the [[World Internet Conference]] in [[China]], where he stated that "the theme of this conference—developing a digital economy for openness and shared benefits—is a vision we at Apple share. We are proud to have worked alongside many of our partners in China to help build a community that will join a common future in cyberspace."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/4/16733202/china-apple-google-tim-cook-sundar-pichai-open-internet-surprise-guests|title= Apple's Tim Cook and Google's Sundar Pichai were surprise guests at China's internet conference|last=Liao|first=Shannon|date=2017-12-04|website=The Verge|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1145637/2017-world-internet-conference-tim-cook-and-sundar-pichais-surprise-remarks/|title= Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai's surprise remarks at China's "open internet" conference|last=Horwitz|first=Josh|date=2017-12-04|website=QZ|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref>
===Cyber security===
Alongside [[Google]] vice-president [[Vint Cerf]] and [[AT&T]] CEO [[Randall Stephenson]], Cook attended a closed-door summit held by [[Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]], on August 8, 2013, in regard to government surveillance and the [[Internet]] in the wake of the [[Edward Snowden]] [[2013 mass surveillance disclosures|NSA incident]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple, Google and AT&T meet Obama to discuss NSA surveillance concerns|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/09/nsa-surveillance-apple-google-obama?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2&et_cid=44953&et_rid=7107573&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2ftechnology%2f2013%2faug%2f09%2fnsa-surveillance-apple-google-obama|accessdate=August 12, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 9, 2013|author=Juliette Garside}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apple's Tim Cook, tech executives meet with Barack Obama to talk surveillance|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/tim-cook-barack-obama-technology-95362.html|work=Politico|publisher=Politico LLC|accessdate=August 12, 2013|author=Tony Romm}}</ref>
Following the [[2015 San Bernardino attack|December 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino]], California, in which 14 people were killed by [[Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik]], the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] solicited Apple to assist in "unlock[ing]" an iPhone 5C used by Farook.<ref name="NYT FBI">{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/technology/apple-timothy-cook-fbi-san-bernardino.html| title = Apple Fights Order to Unlock San Bernardino Gunman's iPhone| last = Lichtblau| date = February 17, 2016| work = [[The New York Times]]| last2 = Benner| first2 = Katie| location = Washington, D.C.| first1 = Eric| accessdate = February 21, 2016}}</ref> On February 16, 2016, in response to a request by the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], a federal magistrate judge ordered Apple to create a custom iOS [[firmware]] version that would allow investigators to circumvent the phone's security features.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/judge-apple-must-help-fbi-unlock-san-bernardino-shooters-iphone/| title = Judge: Apple must help FBI unlock San Bernardino shooter's iPhone| date = February 16, 2016| website = [[Ars Technica]]| publisher = [[Condé Nast]]| last1 = Farivar| first1 = Cyrus| accessdate = February 21, 2016| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160217094935/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/judge-apple-must-help-fbi-unlock-san-bernardino-shooters-iphone/| archivedate = February 17, 2016| deadurl = no}}</ref> Cook responded in an open letter, wherein he denounced the government's demands as constituting a "breach of privacy" with "chilling" consequences.<ref name="NYT FBI" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.apple.com/customer-letter/| title = A Message to Our Customers| authorlink = Tim Cook| date = February 16, 2016| publisher = Apple Inc.| last1 = Cook| first1 = Tim| accessdate = February 21, 2016| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160217084120/http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/| archivedate = February 17, 2016| deadurl = no}}</ref>
==Public image==
=== Leadership style ===
As Apple Inc. CEO, Cook regularly begins sending emails at 4:30 a.m. and previously held Sunday-night staff meetings by telephone to prepare for the next week.<ref name="cnnnov2008" /> Cook shared in May 2013 that his leadership focused on people, strategy, and execution; he explained, "If you get those three right the world is a great place."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/news_events/feature_stories/tim-cook-talks-leadership/|title=Apple CEO and Fuqua Alum Tim Cook Talks Leadership at Duke|date=May 29, 2013|publisher=The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University}}</ref> Under Cook's leadership, Apple has increased its donations to charity, and in 2013, he hired [[Lisa P. Jackson|Lisa Jackson]], formerly the head of the [[Environmental Protection Agency]], to assist Apple with the development of its renewable energy activities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patel|first=Nilay|title=Tim Cook boasts about Apple's charitable contributions during internal all-hands meeting|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/2/2766403/tim-cook-apple-charity-project-red-stanford|publisher=The Verge|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Apples-softer-side-emerges-under-Cook/tabid/412/articleID/279793/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ|title=Apple's softer side emerges under Cook|date=December 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Dig" />
===Public advocacy===
During [[United States presidential election, 2008|the 2008 election cycle]], Cook donated to [[Barack Obama]]'s [[Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|first White House election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/12/16/251787365/um-chaddickerson-how-did-you-get-an-invite-to-the-white-house|title=Almost All Tech Execs At White House Supported Obama Campaign|website=NPR.org|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
While it had been reported in early 2011 that Cook was gay,<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Apple's New Boss, The Most Powerful Gay Man in Silicon Valley|url=http://gawker.com/5736917/meet-apples-new-boss-the-most-powerful-gay-man-in-silicon-valley|website=Gawker|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=January 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apple's Newest Product: Gay iCon?|url=http://www.advocate.com/business/2011/10/19/apples-newest-product-gay-icon|website=advocate.com|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=October 19, 2011}}</ref> at the time, and prior to his Oct. 2014 public statement, Cook chose to keep his personal life private.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook Finally Takes Questions|url=http://www.advocate.com/business/2012/12/06/apple-ceo-tim-cook-finally-does-big-interview|website=advocate.com|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=December 6, 2012|quote=He described himself repeatedly as 'private'}}</ref> He did publicly support [[LGBT rights]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tim Cook's memo takes public battle for gay rights to his employees|url=http://upstart.bizjournals.com/entrepreneurs/hot-shots/2013/12/23/tim-cook-memo-mentions-gay-rights.html?page=all|website=upstart.bizjournals.com/|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=December 23, 2013|quote=The traditionally reserved CEO kicked off this recent burst of public statements in support of the rights of the [[LGBT]] community with an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal urging Congress to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) protecting employees against discrimination in the workplace.}}</ref> In October 2014, the Alabama Academy of Honor inducted Cook, who spoke about his home state's record of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=October 27, 2014|title=Apple's Tim Cook Calls on Alabama to Protect Gay Rights|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/technology/apples-tim-cook-calls-on-alabama-to-protect-gay-rights.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref> The Academy of Honor is the highest honor Alabama gives its citizens.<ref>{{cite news|last=Isaac|first=Mike|date=October 30, 2014|title=Long Private About the Topic, Tim Cook Says He's 'Proud to Be Gay'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/technology/timothy-cook-apples-chief-executive-says-he-is-proud-to-be-gay.html|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref>
In 2015, Cook donated to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] senators [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Patrick Leahy]] for their stances on eBook pricing and surveillance reform, respectively.<ref name=":1"/> During the same election cycle he hosted a fundraiser for Senator [[Rob Portman]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/tim-cook-apple-paul-ryan-fundraiser-224554|title=Apple's Cook to host Paul Ryan fundraiser amid Trump woes|website=POLITICO|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
In early March 2016, he donated to the election campaign of Democratic representative [[Zoe Lofgren]] of California. In early June, Cook hosted a private fundraiser along with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives [[Paul Ryan]], described by ''[[Politico]]'' as "a joint fundraising committee aimed at helping to elect other House [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]".<ref name=":1" />
In the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 election]], Cook raised funds for the [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|presidential campaign]] of [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2016/08/24/apple-tim-cook-fundraiser-clinton/ |title=Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Hosting a Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton |last=Pressman |first=Aaron |date=Aug 24, 2016 |website=www.fortune.com |publisher=Fortune |access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref> At one point, Clinton's campaign [[Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection, 2016|considered Cook as a candidate for vice-president]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/wikileaks-email-shows-apple-ceo-tim-cook-on-vp-shortlist-2016-10 |title=Hillary Clinton's campaign considered Apple CEO Tim Cook for vice president |last=Leswing |first=Kif |date=October 18, 2016 |website=www.businessinsider.com |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref>
In September 2017 at [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]'s Global Business Forum, Cook defended the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals|DACA immigration program]]. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the direction of [[Donald Trump]]'s administration, stating: "This is unacceptable. This is not who we are as a country. I am personally shocked that there is even a discussion of this."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/20/apple-ceo-tim-cooks-views-on-immigration-and-daca.html|title=CEO Tim Cook says Apple is pushing extremely hard on DACA: 'I am personally shocked that there is even a discussion of this'|work=CNBC|accessdate=October 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2017/9/20/16338626/tim-cook-bloomberg-forum-dreamers-immigration|title=Tim Cook says DACA is the 'biggest issue of our time'|work=Recode|accessdate=October 8, 2017}}</ref>
In early 2018, Cook met with [[Mohammad bin Salman]], the crown prince and de facto ruler of [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>"[https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/1-billion-and-one-arabian-nights-prince-mohammed-dines-with-murdoch-20180404-p4z7mp.html Prince Mohammed books out hotel to dine with Murdoch]". ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. April 4, 2018.</ref>
==Personal life==
Cook is a [[physical fitness|fitness]] enthusiast and enjoys hiking, cycling, and going to the gym. Cook is known for being mostly solitary. He uses an off-campus fitness center for privacy, and very little is known about his personal life. He explained in October 2014 that he has sought to achieve a "basic level of privacy".<ref name="cnnnov2008" /><ref name="Dig">{{cite web|author1=Walter Smyth|title=Tim Cook Coming Into His Own|url=http://mobilitydigest.com/tim-cook-coming-into-his-own/|website=Mobility Digest|publisher=Mobility Digest|accessdate=August 25, 2014|date=March 2, 2014}}</ref> Cook was misdiagnosed with [[multiple sclerosis]] in 1996, an incident he said made him "see the world in a different way". He has since taken part in charity fundraising, such as cycle races to raise money for the disease. Cook later told an Auburn alumni magazine that his symptoms came from "lugging a lot of incredibly heavy luggage around".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kane|first1=Yukari|title=The Job After Steve Jobs: Tim Cook and Apple|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304610404579405420617578250|website=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref>
In 2009, Cook said that he offered a portion of his liver to Jobs, since both share a rare blood type. Cook claims that Jobs responded by yelling, "I'll never let you do that. I'll never do that."<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/13/tim_cook_tried_to_foist_his_liver_on_steve_jobs/ I BEG YOU, mighty Jobs, TAKE MY LIVER, Cook told Apple's dying co-founder]. [[The Register]]. 13 March 2015</ref>
While delivering the 2010 [[commencement speech]] at Auburn University, Cook emphasized the importance of [[Intuition (philosophy)|intuition]] during significant decision-making processes in his life, and further explained that preparation and hard work are also necessary to execute on intuition.<ref>{{cite video|date=May 14, 2010|title=Auburn University Spring 2010 Commencement Speaker Tim Cook|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEAXuHvzjao|publisher=Auburn University|accessdate=August 27, 2011}}</ref>
On October 30, 2014, Cook [[came out as gay]] and stated in an editorial for [[Bloomberg Businessweek|Bloomberg Business]], "I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."<ref name="bloomberg.com">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-speaks-up</ref> Cook also explained that he has been open about his sexuality "for years" and, while many people at Apple were aware of his sexual orientation, he sought to focus on Apple's products and customers rather than his personal life. He ended the article by saying "We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick."<ref name="bloomberg.com"/> As a result, Cook became the first openly gay CEO on the Fortune 500 list. In September 2015, Cook appeared on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]''; when asked about what inspired him to publicly reveal his sexual orientation, he responded, "Where I valued my privacy significantly, I felt that I was valuing it too far above what I could do for other people, so I wanted to tell everyone my truth."<ref>CBS This Morning, Sept. 16, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAWUitFgOIM</ref>
==Philanthropy==
According to ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'', Cook has Apple stock worth about $120 million and [[Employee stock option|options]] with a value of $665 million. In March 2015, he said he planned to donate his entire stock fortune to [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/26/tim-cook/|title=Apple's Tim Cook leads different|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|accessdate=March 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-ceo-tim-cook-promises--give-away-wealth-philanthropy-fortune-2015-3?r=US|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook 'plans to give away all his wealth|work=businessinsider.com|accessdate=March 26, 2015}}</ref>
== Awards and honors ==
* [[Financial Times Person of the Year]] (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://next.ft.com/cms/s/2/4064a6fe-7fd7-11e4-adff-00144feabdc0.html|title=Person of the Year: Tim Cook of Apple - FT.com|access-date=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://9to5mac.com/2014/12/11/financial-times-names-tim-cook-person-of-the-year/|title=Financial Times names Tim Cook 'Person of the Year'|last=Hall|first=Zac|date=2014-12-11|website=9to5Mac|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/financialtimes/status/543758476657582081|title=Financial Times on Twitter|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights|Ripple of Change Award]] (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2015/11/30/11621026/apple-ceo-tim-cook-to-receive-robert-f-kennedy-human-rights-award|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook to Receive Robert F. Kennedy Center Award|last=Chmielewski|first=Dawn|date=2015-11-30|website=Recode|access-date=2016-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/09/tim-cook-2015-ripple-of-hope-award/|title=Tim Cook Accepts 2015 Ripple of Hope Award at RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights|last=Rossignol|first=Joe|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune Magazine's]]: World's Greatest Leader. (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/tim-cook-1/|title=Tim Cook|website=Fortune|accessdate=2015-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2016/03/24/fortunes-ranking-of-the-worlds-greatest-leaders-is-nearly-half-women/|title=Fortune's ranking of the 'World's Greatest Leaders' is nearly half women|website=Washington Post|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Alabama Academy of Honor]]: Inductee. (2015)<ref name=":02">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/technology/apples-tim-cook-calls-on-alabama-to-protect-gay-rights.html|title=Apple's Tim Cook Calls on Alabama to Protect Gay Rights|date=October 27, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Human Rights Campaign]]'s Visibility Award (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/10/04/apples-tim-cook-accepts-visibility-award-at-human-rights-campaign-dinner|title=Apple's Tim Cook accepts Visibility Award at Human Rights Campaign dinner|website=AppleInsider|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/apple-ceo-tim-cook-to-be-honored-at-the-19th-annual-human-rights-campaign-n|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook To Be Honored at the 19th Annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner {{!}} Human Rights Campaign|last=Campaign|first=Human Rights|website=Human Rights Campaign|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Tim Cook}}
* {{Twitter}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Steve Jobs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Apple Computer CEOs|CEO of Apple]]|years=2011–present}}
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{{Portal bar|Apple Inc.|Biography|Business and economics|LGBT|United States|Alabama|California|San Francisco Bay Area}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Tim}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alabama Academy of Honor members]]
[[Category:American chief operating officers]]
[[Category:American computer businesspeople]]
[[Category:American technology chief executives]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. executives]]
[[Category:Auburn University alumni]]
[[Category:Fuqua School of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Gay men]]
[[Category:IBM employees]]
[[Category:LGBT businesspeople from the United States]]
[[Category:LGBT people from Alabama]]
[[Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nike, Inc. people]]
[[Category:People from Robertsdale, Alabama]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Tim Cook
|image = Tim Cook 2009 cropped.jpg
|birth_name = Timothy Donald Cook
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|1}}
|birth_place = [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]], U.S.
|residence = [[Palo Alto, California]], U.S.
|employer = {{plainlist|
*[[IBM]] {{small|(1982–1994)}}
*Intelligent Electronics {{small|(1994–1998)}}
*[[Compaq]] {{small|(1998)}}
*[[Apple Inc.]] {{small|(1998–present)}}}}
Board of [[Nike Inc.]]
|education = [[Auburn University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])}}<br>[[Duke University]] {{small|([[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])}}
|salary = [[United States dollar|US$]] 10.3 million (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000119312516422528/d79474ddef14a.htm |title=DEF 14A |date=February 26, 2016 |website=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]}}</ref>
|net_worth = US$ 785 million (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fortune.com/2015/03/26/tim-cook/ |title=Apple's Tim Cook leads different |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date=March 26, 2015 |website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
|signature = Tim Cook Signature.svg
}}
'''Timothy Donald Cook''' (born November 1, 1960)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/110498/who-is-apples-new-ceo-tim-cook-bio/ |title=Who Is Apple's New CEO Tim Cook? [Bio] |last=Brownlee |first=John |date=August 25, 2011 |website=[[Apple community#Other sites|Cult of Mac]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> is an American business executive and [[Industrial engineering|industrial engineer]]. Cook is the [[chief executive officer|Chief Executive Officer]] of [[Apple Inc.]], and previously served as the company's [[Chief operating officer|Chief Operating Officer]] under its founder [[Steve Jobs]].<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Cotton |first1=Katie |last2=Dowling |first2=Steve |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple: Tim Cook Named CEO and Jobs Elected Chairman of the Board |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2011/08/24Steve-Jobs-Resigns-as-CEO-of-Apple/ |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
Cook joined Apple in March 1998 as a [[Vice president|senior vice president]] for worldwide operations, and then served as the [[Vice president#Hierarchy of vice presidents|Executive Vice President]] for worldwide sales and operations.<ref name="people.forbes.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/tim-cook/ |title=Tim Cook |website=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> He was made the Chief Executive on August 24, 2011, prior to Jobs' death in October of that year.<ref name="nike2">{{cite web |url=http://investors.nikeinc.com/investors/corporate-governance/?toggle=directors |title=Investor Relations – Investors – Corporate Governance |website=[[Nike, Inc.]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> During his tenure as the Chief Executive, he has advocated for the political reformation of international and domestic surveillance, [[Computer security|cybersecurity]], [[Corporate tax in the United States|corporate taxation]], American manufacturing, and [[environmental preservation]].
In 2014, Cook became the first Chief Executive of a [[Fortune 500]] company to publicly come out as gay.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/apple-s-tim-cook-is-first-fortune-500-to-come-out-as-gay-350111811811 |title=Apple's Tim Cook Is First Fortune 500 to Come Out as Gay |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=October 30, 2014 |website=[[NBCNews.com]]}}</ref> Cook also serves on the boards of directors of [[Nike, Inc.]],<ref name="nike2"/> the [[National Football Foundation]],<ref name="NFF">{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfoundation.org/News/NewsDetail/tabid/567/Article/51174/nff-board-member-tim-cook-named-ceo-of-apple.aspx |title=NFF Board Member Tim Cook Named CEO of Apple |date=August 25, 2011 |website=[[National Football Foundation]]}}</ref> and is a trustee of [[Duke University]].<ref name="DU-BoT">{{cite web |url=https://trustees.duke.edu/trustees/tim-cook-b%E2%80%9988 |title=Tim Cook B'88 |website=[[Duke University]] |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref> In March 2015, he said he planned to donate his entire stock fortune to [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/26/tim-cook-apple-donate-800m-fortune-charity |title=Tim Cook plans to donate $800m fortune to charity before he dies}}</ref> The research published at the [[University of Oxford]] characterized Cook's leadership style as paradigmatic of founder centrism: explained as a founder's mindset, an ethical disposition towards the shareholder collective, and an intense focus on exponential value creation.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|last1=Rojas|first1=Claudio|title=Eclipse of the Public Corporation Revisited: Concentrated Equity Ownership Theory|url=https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/business-law-blog/blog/2017/06/eclipse-public-corporation-revisited-concentrated-equity-ownership|publisher=The University of Oxford|accessdate=June 27, 2017}} ("Founder centrism, an inclusive concept within Concentrated Equity Ownership (CEO) theory, integrates the capacity of both founder and non-founder senior leadership to adopt an owner's mindset in traditionally structured corporations, such as Thomas J. Watson Sr. and Thomas Watson Jr. with IBM, Steve Jobs and Tim Cook with Apple, Jamie Dimon with JPMorgan Chase, Lloyd Blankfein with Goldman Sachs... and many others. In substance, all fall within the ambit of founder centrism".)</ref>
==Early life and education==
Cook was born in [[Mobile, Alabama]], United States.<ref name="AL.com-Robertsdale">Michael Finch II: [http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/tim_cook_--_apple_ceo_and_robe.html ''Tim Cook – Apple CEO and Robertsdale's favorite son – still finds time to return to his Baldwin County roots.''] AL.com, February 24, 2014.</ref> He was baptized in a [[Baptist]] church<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=Tim |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pro-discrimination-religious-freedom-laws-are-dangerous-to-america/2015/03/29/bdb4ce9e-d66d-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html |title=Tim Cook: Pro-discrimination 'religious freedom' laws are dangerous |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 29, 2016 |accessdate=November 27, 2016}}</ref> and grew up in nearby [[Robertsdale, Alabama|Robertsdale]]. His father, Donald, was a [[shipyard]] worker, and his mother, Geraldine, worked at a pharmacy.<ref name="AL.com-Robertsdale" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/tim_cook_--_apple_ceo_and_robe.html|title=Tim Cook – Apple CEO and Robertsdale's favorite son – still finds time to return to his Baldwin County roots|work=AL.com}}</ref>
Cook graduated from [[Robertsdale High School]]. He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]]<nowiki/> (B.S.) in [[industrial engineering]] from [[Auburn University]] in 1982,<ref>[http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2011/08/portrait-of-new-apple-ceo-tim-cook-as-a-young-auburn-student/#.VEGJW-fOSDo Portrait of New Apple CEO Tim Cook as a Young Auburn Student]: The War Eagle Reader</ref> and his [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) from [[Duke University]]'s [[Fuqua School of Business]] in 1988.<ref name=dukenews>{{cite news|url=http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2009/01/15/fuqua-grad-takes-reins-apple|title=Fuqua grad takes reins at Apple|last=Love|first=Julia|work=[[The Chronicle (Duke University)]]|date=January 14, 2009|accessdate=February 11, 2011}}</ref>
==Career==
===Pre-Apple era===
After graduating from Auburn University in 1982, Cook spent 12 years in [[IBM]]'s personal computer business, ultimately serving as the director of North American fulfillment.<ref name="people.forbes.com"/> It was during this time that Cook also earned his MBA from [[Duke University]], becoming a Fuqua Scholar in 1988. Later, he served as the [[chief operating officer|Chief Operating Officer]] of the computer reseller division of Intelligent Electronics, and in 1997 became the Vice President for Corporate Materials at [[Compaq]] for six months.<ref name="CNN Money">{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/24/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index3.htm?iid=EL|work=CNN|title=The genius of Steve|date=August 24, 2011|accessdate=October 4, 2013}}</ref>
===Apple era===
====Early career====
In 1998, [[Steve Jobs]] asked Tim Cook to join Apple. In a [[commencement speech]] at [[Auburn University]], Cook said he decided to join Apple after meeting Jobs for the first time:
{{quote|Any purely rational consideration of cost and benefits lined up in Compaq's favor, and the people who knew me best advised me to stay at Compaq... On that day in early 1998 I listened to my intuition, not the left side of my brain or for that matter even the people who knew me best... no more than five minutes into my initial interview with Steve, I wanted to throw caution and logic to the wind and join Apple. My intuition already knew that joining Apple was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for the creative genius, and to be on the executive team that could resurrect a great American company.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=Tim|title=Commencement Address at Auburn University, 20110|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1776338/tim-cook-apple-ceo-auburn-university-commencement-speech-2010|publisher=Fast Co Design}}</ref>|sign=|source=}}
His first position was [[vice president|Senior Vice President]] for worldwide operations.<ref name="people.forbes.com"/> In relation to the role, Cook was quoted as saying: "You kind of want to manage it like you're in the dairy business. If it gets past its freshness date, you have a problem".<ref name="cnnnov2008">{{cite news|first=Adam|last=Lashinsky|url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/09/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index.htm|work=CNN|title=The genius behind Steve|date=November 10, 2008|accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Tim Cook WWDC 2012.jpg|thumb|Cook giving the [[keynote]] at the [[Apple Worldwide Developers Conference|2012 World Wide Developers Conference]].]]
Cook closed factories and warehouses, and replaced them with contract manufacturers; this resulted in a reduction of the company's inventory from months to days. Predicting its importance, his group invested in long-term deals such as advance investment in [[flash memory]] from 2005 onward, guaranteeing stable supply of what became a key [[iPod Nano]], then [[iPhone]] and [[iPad]] component. Competitors at [[Hewlett-Packard]], describing their cancelled [[TouchPad]] tablet computer, later said that it was made from "cast-off reject iPad parts".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ziegler|first1=Chris|title=Pre to postmortem: the inside story of the death of Palm and webOS|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/5/3062611/palm-webos-hp-inside-story-pre-postmortem|website=The Verge|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> Cook's actions were credited with keeping costs under control and, combined with the company's design and marketing savvy, generated huge profits.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/09/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index.htm|work=CNN|first=Adam|last=Lashinsky|title=The genius behind Steve|date=November 10, 2008}}</ref>
In January 2007, Cook was promoted to lead operations<ref>{{cite news|last=Helft|first=Miguel|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/technology/24cook.html?pagewanted=all|title=The Understudy Takes the Stage at Apple|work=The New York Times|date=January 23, 2011|accessdate=February 11, 2011}}</ref> and served as Chief Executive in 2009, while Jobs was away on a leave of absence for health related issues. In January 2011, Apple's board of directors approved a third medical leave of absence requested by Jobs. During that time, Cook was responsible for most of Apple's day-to-day operations, while Jobs made most major decisions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12205173|title=Apple boss Steve Jobs takes 'medical leave'|work=BBC News|date=January 17, 2011|accessdate=February 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Rob">{{cite web|author1=Robin Ferracone|title=An Outsider's View of Apple's Succession Plan|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinferracone/2011/09/13/an-outsiders-view-of-apples-succession-plan-3/|website=Forbes.com|publisher=Forbes LLC|accessdate=August 25, 2014|date=September 13, 2011}}</ref>
====Apple chief executive (2011–present)====
After Jobs resigned as CEO and became chairman of the board, Cook was named the new Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. on August 24, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/us-apple-idUSTRE77N82K20110824|title=Steve Jobs resigns from Apple, Cook becomes CEO|agency=Reuters|date=August 24, 2011|accessdate=August 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116096027141893457 |title=Apple's no. 2 has low profile, high impact|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Nick|last=Wingfield|date=October 16, 2006|accessdate=October 16, 2006}}</ref> Six weeks later, on October 5, 2011, Jobs died due to complications from [[pancreatic cancer]].<ref name="gizmododaybeforehedied">{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/5851475/steve-jobs-worked-the-day-before-he-died|title=Steve Jobs Worked the Day Before He Died|work=Gizmodo|date=October 19, 2011|accessdate=October 21, 2011|author=Biddle, Sam|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/68egBhxkQ?url=http://gizmodo.com/5851475/steve-jobs-worked-the-day-before-he-died|archivedate=June 24, 2012|deadurl=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Forbes'' contributor Robin Ferracone wrote in September 2011: "Jobs and Cook proceeded to forge a strong partnership, and rescued the company from its death spiral, which took it from $11 billion in revenue in 1995 down to less than $6 billion in 1998 ... Under their leadership, the company went from its nadir to a remarkable $100 billion today".<ref name="Rob" />{{Better source|reason=Forbes contributors do not have editorial oversight.|date=January 2018}} In April 2012, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' included Cook on its annual "100 Most Influential People in the World" list.<ref name="Time2012">{{cite news|title=The 100 Most Influential People in the World|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112101,00.html|accessdate=August 15, 2012|newspaper=Time|date=April 12, 2012}}</ref>
On October 29, 2012, Cook made major changes to the company's executive team. [[Scott Forstall]] resigned as senior vice president of [[iOS]], and became an advisor to Cook until he eventually departed from the company in 2013. [[John Browett]], who was Senior VP of retail, was dismissed six months after he commenced at Apple, when he received 100,000 shares worth US$60 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cultofmac.com/163180/apple-welcomes-new-retail-vp-john-browett-with-60-million-in-stock/|author=Alex Heath|title=Apple Welcomes New Retail VP John Browett With $60 Million In Stock|work=Cult Of Mac|date=April 25, 2012|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Forstall's duties were divided among four other Apple executives: design SVP [[Sir Jonathan Ive]] assumed leadership of Apple's human interface team; [[Craig Federighi]] became the new head of iOS software engineering; services chief [[Eddy Cue]] became responsible for Maps and Siri; and [[Bob Mansfield]], previously SVP of hardware engineering, became the head of a new technology group.<ref name="applepr">{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/29Apple-Announces-Changes-to-Increase-Collaboration-Across-Hardware-Software-Services.html|title=Apple Announces Changes to Increase Collaboration Across Hardware, Software & Services|publisher=Apple Inc.|date=October 29, 2012|accessdate=October 29, 2012}}</ref>
Cook's executive changes occurred after the third quarter of the [[fiscal year]], when revenues and profits grew less than predicted.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arthur|first=Charles|title=Apple's Tim Cook shows ruthless streak in firing maps and retail executives|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/30/apple-tim-cook-ruthless-streak|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 30, 2012|location=London}}</ref> One commentator said that Forstall was forced to step down, as Cook "decided to lance the boil as internal politics and dissent reached a key pitch". Since becoming CEO, Cook focused upon building a harmonious culture that meant "weeding out people with disagreeable personalities—people Jobs tolerated and even held close, like Forstall";<ref>{{cite news|title=This is Tim Cook's Apple: A Company Where 'Mini-Steve' Gets the Axe|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2012/10/30/this-is-tim-cooks-apple-a-company-where-mini-steve-gets-the-axe|work=Forbes|date=October 30, 2012|accessdate=May 2, 2013|first=Erika|last=Morphy}}</ref>{{Better source|reason=Forbes contributors do not have editorial oversight.|date=January 2018}} although, another journalist said that "Apple's ability to innovate came from tension and disagreement."<ref>{{cite news|author=Jay Yarow|title=Fired Apple Executive Scott Forstall 'Was The Best Approximation Of Steve Jobs That Apple Had Left'|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-employee-why-firing-scott-forstall-was-a-mistake-2012-11|work=Business Insider|date=November 12, 2012|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> On February 28, 2014, Cook made headlines when he challenged shareholders to "get out of the stock" if they didn't share the company's views on sustainability and climate change.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple's Tim Cook picks a fight with climate change deniers|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/01/apple-cook-shareholders-sustainability/|accessdate=March 1, 2014|newspaper=CNN|date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> In May 2016, Cook traveled to [[People's Republic of China|China]] to meet with government officials there after the closure of Apple's online iTunes Store and iBooks store by the Chinese government.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vincent |first=James |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/6/11606412/apple-china-books-movies-tim-cook-visit |title=Tim Cook reportedly traveling to China following closure of Apple's online stores |website=The Verge |date=May 6, 2016 |accessdate=November 27, 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, some analysts compared Cook to former [[Microsoft]] CEO [[Steve Ballmer]], claiming that innovation had died down since he replaced Jobs, similar to when Ballmer became Microsoft CEO in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/10/25/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ballmer/|title=Why Tim Cook is Steve Ballmer|date=October 26, 2016|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cio.com/article/3170935/leadership-management/apple-is-tim-cook-turning-into-steve-ballmer.html|title=Apple: Is Tim Cook turning into Steve Ballmer?|first=Jim|last=Lynch|publisher=}}</ref> In December 2017, Cook was a speaker at the [[World Internet Conference]] in [[China]], where he stated that "the theme of this conference—developing a digital economy for openness and shared benefits—is a vision we at Apple share. We are proud to have worked alongside many of our partners in China to help build a community that will join a common future in cyberspace."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/4/16733202/china-apple-google-tim-cook-sundar-pichai-open-internet-surprise-guests|title= Apple's Tim Cook and Google's Sundar Pichai were surprise guests at China's internet conference|last=Liao|first=Shannon|date=2017-12-04|website=The Verge|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1145637/2017-world-internet-conference-tim-cook-and-sundar-pichais-surprise-remarks/|title= Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai's surprise remarks at China's "open internet" conference|last=Horwitz|first=Josh|date=2017-12-04|website=QZ|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref>
===Cyber security===
Alongside [[Google]] vice-president [[Vint Cerf]] and [[AT&T]] CEO [[Randall Stephenson]], Cook attended a closed-door summit held by [[Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]], on August 8, 2013, in regard to government surveillance and the [[Internet]] in the wake of the [[Edward Snowden]] [[2013 mass surveillance disclosures|NSA incident]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple, Google and AT&T meet Obama to discuss NSA surveillance concerns|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/09/nsa-surveillance-apple-google-obama?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2&et_cid=44953&et_rid=7107573&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2ftechnology%2f2013%2faug%2f09%2fnsa-surveillance-apple-google-obama|accessdate=August 12, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 9, 2013|author=Juliette Garside}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apple's Tim Cook, tech executives meet with Barack Obama to talk surveillance|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/tim-cook-barack-obama-technology-95362.html|work=Politico|publisher=Politico LLC|accessdate=August 12, 2013|author=Tony Romm}}</ref>
Following the [[2015 San Bernardino attack|December 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino]], California, in which 14 people were killed by [[Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik]], the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] solicited Apple to assist in "unlock[ing]" an iPhone 5C used by Farook.<ref name="NYT FBI">{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/technology/apple-timothy-cook-fbi-san-bernardino.html| title = Apple Fights Order to Unlock San Bernardino Gunman's iPhone| last = Lichtblau| date = February 17, 2016| work = [[The New York Times]]| last2 = Benner| first2 = Katie| location = Washington, D.C.| first1 = Eric| accessdate = February 21, 2016}}</ref> On February 16, 2016, in response to a request by the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], a federal magistrate judge ordered Apple to create a custom iOS [[firmware]] version that would allow investigators to circumvent the phone's security features.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/judge-apple-must-help-fbi-unlock-san-bernardino-shooters-iphone/| title = Judge: Apple must help FBI unlock San Bernardino shooter's iPhone| date = February 16, 2016| website = [[Ars Technica]]| publisher = [[Condé Nast]]| last1 = Farivar| first1 = Cyrus| accessdate = February 21, 2016| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160217094935/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/judge-apple-must-help-fbi-unlock-san-bernardino-shooters-iphone/| archivedate = February 17, 2016| deadurl = no}}</ref> Cook responded in an open letter, wherein he denounced the government's demands as constituting a "breach of privacy" with "chilling" consequences.<ref name="NYT FBI" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.apple.com/customer-letter/| title = A Message to Our Customers| authorlink = Tim Cook| date = February 16, 2016| publisher = Apple Inc.| last1 = Cook| first1 = Tim| accessdate = February 21, 2016| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160217084120/http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/| archivedate = February 17, 2016| deadurl = no}}</ref>
==Public image==
=== Leadership style ===
As Apple Inc. CEO, Cook regularly begins sending emails at 4:30 a.m. and previously held Sunday-night staff meetings by telephone to prepare for the next week.<ref name="cnnnov2008" /> Cook shared in May 2013 that his leadership focused on people, strategy, and execution; he explained, "If you get those three right the world is a great place."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/news_events/feature_stories/tim-cook-talks-leadership/|title=Apple CEO and Fuqua Alum Tim Cook Talks Leadership at Duke|date=May 29, 2013|publisher=The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University}}</ref> Under Cook's leadership, Apple has increased its donations to charity, and in 2013, he hired [[Lisa P. Jackson|Lisa Jackson]], formerly the head of the [[Environmental Protection Agency]], to assist Apple with the development of its renewable energy activities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patel|first=Nilay|title=Tim Cook boasts about Apple's charitable contributions during internal all-hands meeting|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/2/2766403/tim-cook-apple-charity-project-red-stanford|publisher=The Verge|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Apples-softer-side-emerges-under-Cook/tabid/412/articleID/279793/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ|title=Apple's softer side emerges under Cook|date=December 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Dig" />
===Public advocacy===
During [[United States presidential election, 2008|the 2008 election cycle]], Cook donated to [[Barack Obama]]'s [[Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|first White House election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/12/16/251787365/um-chaddickerson-how-did-you-get-an-invite-to-the-white-house|title=Almost All Tech Execs At White House Supported Obama Campaign|website=NPR.org|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
While it had been reported in early 2011 that Cook was gay,<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Apple's New Boss, The Most Powerful Gay Man in Silicon Valley|url=http://gawker.com/5736917/meet-apples-new-boss-the-most-powerful-gay-man-in-silicon-valley|website=Gawker|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=January 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apple's Newest Product: Gay iCon?|url=http://www.advocate.com/business/2011/10/19/apples-newest-product-gay-icon|website=advocate.com|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=October 19, 2011}}</ref> at the time, and prior to his Oct. 2014 public statement, Cook chose to keep his personal life private.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook Finally Takes Questions|url=http://www.advocate.com/business/2012/12/06/apple-ceo-tim-cook-finally-does-big-interview|website=advocate.com|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=December 6, 2012|quote=He described himself repeatedly as 'private'}}</ref> He did publicly support [[LGBT rights]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tim Cook's memo takes public battle for gay rights to his employees|url=http://upstart.bizjournals.com/entrepreneurs/hot-shots/2013/12/23/tim-cook-memo-mentions-gay-rights.html?page=all|website=upstart.bizjournals.com/|accessdate=November 1, 2014|date=December 23, 2013|quote=The traditionally reserved CEO kicked off this recent burst of public statements in support of the rights of the [[LGBT]] community with an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal urging Congress to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) protecting employees against discrimination in the workplace.}}</ref> In October 2014, the Alabama Academy of Honor inducted Cook, who spoke about his home state's record of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=October 27, 2014|title=Apple's Tim Cook Calls on Alabama to Protect Gay Rights|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/technology/apples-tim-cook-calls-on-alabama-to-protect-gay-rights.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref> The Academy of Honor is the highest honor Alabama gives its citizens.<ref>{{cite news|last=Isaac|first=Mike|date=October 30, 2014|title=Long Private About the Topic, Tim Cook Says He's 'Proud to Be Gay'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/technology/timothy-cook-apples-chief-executive-says-he-is-proud-to-be-gay.html|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref>
In 2015, Cook donated to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] senators [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Patrick Leahy]] for their stances on eBook pricing and surveillance reform, respectively.<ref name=":1"/> During the same election cycle he hosted a fundraiser for Senator [[Rob Portman]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/tim-cook-apple-paul-ryan-fundraiser-224554|title=Apple's Cook to host Paul Ryan fundraiser amid Trump woes|website=POLITICO|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
In early March 2016, he donated to the election campaign of Democratic representative [[Zoe Lofgren]] of California. In early June, Cook hosted a private fundraiser along with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives [[Paul Ryan]], described by ''[[Politico]]'' as "a joint fundraising committee aimed at helping to elect other House [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]".<ref name=":1" />
In the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 election]], Cook raised funds for the [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|presidential campaign]] of [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2016/08/24/apple-tim-cook-fundraiser-clinton/ |title=Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Hosting a Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton |last=Pressman |first=Aaron |date=Aug 24, 2016 |website=www.fortune.com |publisher=Fortune |access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref> At one point, Clinton's campaign [[Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection, 2016|considered Cook as a candidate for vice-president]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/wikileaks-email-shows-apple-ceo-tim-cook-on-vp-shortlist-2016-10 |title=Hillary Clinton's campaign considered Apple CEO Tim Cook for vice president |last=Leswing |first=Kif |date=October 18, 2016 |website=www.businessinsider.com |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref>
In September 2017 at [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]'s Global Business Forum, Cook defended the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals|DACA immigration program]]. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the direction of [[Donald Trump]]'s administration, stating: "This is unacceptable. This is not who we are as a country. I am personally shocked that there is even a discussion of this."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/20/apple-ceo-tim-cooks-views-on-immigration-and-daca.html|title=CEO Tim Cook says Apple is pushing extremely hard on DACA: 'I am personally shocked that there is even a discussion of this'|work=CNBC|accessdate=October 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2017/9/20/16338626/tim-cook-bloomberg-forum-dreamers-immigration|title=Tim Cook says DACA is the 'biggest issue of our time'|work=Recode|accessdate=October 8, 2017}}</ref>
In early 2018, Cook met with [[Mohammad bin Salman]], the crown prince and de facto ruler of [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>"[https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/1-billion-and-one-arabian-nights-prince-mohammed-dines-with-murdoch-20180404-p4z7mp.html Prince Mohammed books out hotel to dine with Murdoch]". ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. April 4, 2018.</ref>
==Personal life==
Cook is a [[physical fitness|fitness]] enthusiast and enjoys hiking, cycling, and going to the gym. Cook is known for being mostly solitary. He uses an off-campus fitness center for privacy, and very little is known about his personal life. He explained in October 2014 that he has sought to achieve a "basic level of privacy".<ref name="cnnnov2008" /><ref name="Dig">{{cite web|author1=Walter Smyth|title=Tim Cook Coming Into His Own|url=http://mobilitydigest.com/tim-cook-coming-into-his-own/|website=Mobility Digest|publisher=Mobility Digest|accessdate=August 25, 2014|date=March 2, 2014}}</ref> Cook was misdiagnosed with [[multiple sclerosis]] in 1996, an incident he said made him "see the world in a different way". He has since taken part in charity fundraising, such as cycle races to raise money for the disease. Cook later told an Auburn alumni magazine that his symptoms came from "lugging a lot of incredibly heavy luggage around".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kane|first1=Yukari|title=The Job After Steve Jobs: Tim Cook and Apple|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304610404579405420617578250|website=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref>
In 2009, Cook said that he offered a portion of his liver to Jobs, since both share a rare blood type. Cook claims that Jobs responded by yelling, "I'll never let you do that. I'll never do that."<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/13/tim_cook_tried_to_foist_his_liver_on_steve_jobs/ I BEG YOU, mighty Jobs, TAKE MY LIVER, Cook told Apple's dying co-founder]. [[The Register]]. 13 March 2015</ref>
While delivering the 2010 [[commencement speech]] at Auburn University, Cook emphasized the importance of [[Intuition (philosophy)|intuition]] during significant decision-making processes in his life, and further explained that preparation and hard work are also necessary to execute on intuition.<ref>{{cite video|date=May 14, 2010|title=Auburn University Spring 2010 Commencement Speaker Tim Cook|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEAXuHvzjao|publisher=Auburn University|accessdate=August 27, 2011}}</ref>
On October 30, 2014, Cook [[came out as gay]] and stated in an editorial for [[Bloomberg Businessweek|Bloomberg Business]], "I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."<ref name="bloomberg.com">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-speaks-up</ref> Cook also explained that he has been open about his sexuality "for years" and, while many people at Apple were aware of his sexual orientation, he sought to focus on Apple's products and customers rather than his personal life. He ended the article by saying "We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick."<ref name="bloomberg.com"/> As a result, Cook became the first openly gay CEO on the Fortune 500 list. In September 2015, Cook appeared on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]''; when asked about what inspired him to publicly reveal his sexual orientation, he responded, "Where I valued my privacy significantly, I felt that I was valuing it too far above what I could do for other people, so I wanted to tell everyone my truth."<ref>CBS This Morning, Sept. 16, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAWUitFgOIM</ref>
==Philanthropy==
According to ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'', Cook has Apple stock worth about $120 million and [[Employee stock option|options]] with a value of $665 million. In March 2015, he said he planned to donate his entire stock fortune to [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/26/tim-cook/|title=Apple's Tim Cook leads different|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|accessdate=March 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-ceo-tim-cook-promises--give-away-wealth-philanthropy-fortune-2015-3?r=US|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook 'plans to give away all his wealth|work=businessinsider.com|accessdate=March 26, 2015}}</ref>
== Awards and honors ==
* [[Financial Times Person of the Year]] (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://next.ft.com/cms/s/2/4064a6fe-7fd7-11e4-adff-00144feabdc0.html|title=Person of the Year: Tim Cook of Apple - FT.com|access-date=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://9to5mac.com/2014/12/11/financial-times-names-tim-cook-person-of-the-year/|title=Financial Times names Tim Cook 'Person of the Year'|last=Hall|first=Zac|date=2014-12-11|website=9to5Mac|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/financialtimes/status/543758476657582081|title=Financial Times on Twitter|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights|Ripple of Change Award]] (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2015/11/30/11621026/apple-ceo-tim-cook-to-receive-robert-f-kennedy-human-rights-award|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook to Receive Robert F. Kennedy Center Award|last=Chmielewski|first=Dawn|date=2015-11-30|website=Recode|access-date=2016-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/09/tim-cook-2015-ripple-of-hope-award/|title=Tim Cook Accepts 2015 Ripple of Hope Award at RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights|last=Rossignol|first=Joe|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune Magazine's]]: World's Greatest Leader. (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/tim-cook-1/|title=Tim Cook|website=Fortune|accessdate=2015-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2016/03/24/fortunes-ranking-of-the-worlds-greatest-leaders-is-nearly-half-women/|title=Fortune's ranking of the 'World's Greatest Leaders' is nearly half women|website=Washington Post|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Alabama Academy of Honor]]: Inductee. (2015)<ref name=":02">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/technology/apples-tim-cook-calls-on-alabama-to-protect-gay-rights.html|title=Apple's Tim Cook Calls on Alabama to Protect Gay Rights|date=October 27, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Human Rights Campaign]]'s Visibility Award (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/10/04/apples-tim-cook-accepts-visibility-award-at-human-rights-campaign-dinner|title=Apple's Tim Cook accepts Visibility Award at Human Rights Campaign dinner|website=AppleInsider|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/apple-ceo-tim-cook-to-be-honored-at-the-19th-annual-human-rights-campaign-n|title=Apple CEO Tim Cook To Be Honored at the 19th Annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner {{!}} Human Rights Campaign|last=Campaign|first=Human Rights|website=Human Rights Campaign|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
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{{Commons category|Tim Cook}}
* {{Twitter}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Tim}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
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