Apple keeps succession plans a secret

Shareholders reject demands that the technology giant reveals who will replace Steve Jobs

Apple’s shareholders have rejected demands that the company should reveal its succession plan for chief Steve Jobs.

According to Reuters, the reluctance to reveal details of the vote on a proposal by the Central Laborers’ Pension Fund, raised speculation that a large contingent of shareholders may have supported it.

However the shareholders approved a proposal giving them a greater say in appointing directors, Reuters claimed.

Rumours about the Apple supremo’s state of health have been circling for the past few weeks, since he took a third medical leave of absence for unknown reasons last month.

Some doomsayers are not expecting him to ever return to the company, which he co-founded in 1976, after certain reports were released in the US media.

Chief operating officer Tim Cook is holding the fort for Jobs in the meantime and rumour is growing that he will be the likely successor.

However, despite his absence, Jobs has been spotted visiting the vendor’s premises several times already this year.

Apple is gearing up to release the next generation of its frenzy-generating products the iPad and the iPhone. It is understood that the iPad 2 will be launched on 2 March, possibly along with the iPhone 5.