• Silicon Alley Insider, Friday, January 16, 2009 11:30 AM

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says he'll be back after five months of medical leave, but at this point, you could forgive the disbelieving press for not believing him. In any event, while Jobs is on medical leave, COO Tim Cook will take the helm, and the former CEO will remain "involved in major strategic decisions."

Already, many are questioning the validity of Jobs claim. What if Steve doesn't come back? Silicon Alley Insider asks, "Will Apple have wasted five months in purgatory -- potentially losing time and direction under temporary leadership?" Answer: probably not. SAI believes that even if Jobs doesn't come back, Apple is well-positioned to succeed him with someone from inside the company. Potential CEOs include Tim Cook, iPhone software head Scott Forstall, retail head Ron Johnson or Jonathan Ive, head of industrial design.

The good news for Apple is that it's next CEO will more than likely be well-versed in everything the company is working on, its corporate culture, its team, etc. Meanwhile, the company's product line is pretty well set for the next five months, with a few updates for certain products, but probably little more than that. "So while five months in purgatory under temporary leadership could hurt another company, we think it won't significantly hurt Apple. The question, of course, is what happens if the purgatory extends longer than that (or, worse, if Steve doesn't come back)."

Read the whole story at Silicon Alley Insider »