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Apple at 50: Michael Spindler, the CEO who brought in the clones

He’s Apple’s Chief Operating Officer who became the CEO — but he’s not Tim Cook. Instead, this was how Michael Spindler replaced John Sculley, and made himself ill trying to save the company in the 1990s.

Middleaged man in a dark suit and patterned tie resting his head on his hand, looking thoughtful or concerned, seated indoors against a plain light background
Apple CEO Michael Spindler — image credit:Alchetron

Michael Scott was the first Apple CEO, brought in by Mike Markkula, who became the second CEO when Scott was shown the door. Markkula was then responsible along with Steve Jobs for recruiting John Sculley, until he was also shown the exit sign.

But while it was Sculley who made Spindler Chief Operating Officer, and then it was the board that made him CEO, Markkula was again behind all of this. It was Markkula who recruited Spindler to join Apple in September 1980.

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