During my regular internet surfing, I stumble upon an interview of Warren Buffet at CNBC where he is criticizing Apple for hiding the serious illness of Steve Jobs and that he did a liver transplant couple of months back.

If I have any serious illness, or something coming up of an important nature, an operation or anything like that, I think the thing to do is just tell the American, the Berkshire shareholders about it.  I work for ‘em.  Some people might think I’m important to the company.  Certainly Steve Jobs is important to Apple.  So it’s a material fact.  Whether he is facing serious surgery or not is a material fact.  Whether I’m facing serious surgery is a material fact.  Whether (General Electric CEO) Jeff Immelt is, I mean, so I think that’s important to get out.  They’re going to find out about it anyway so I don’t see a big privacy issue or anything of the sort.

I agree to Mr Buffet that hiding such serious illness has been wrong and unethical at Apple’s part towards its customers and shareholders. It’s OK that you don’t share every other detail with the stock exchanges or the shareholders but when your CEO and that too as colossal as Steve Jobs is seriously ill then you need to communicate. Who knows if  I am investing in Apple because of Steve and don’t have any faith in Apple’s product line or whatever innovative practices they say that they follow.

It’s not hidden from anyone that how fair has the Apple been doing before Jobs has been brought back to Business. It was full of problems, there were no innovations and rapidly digressing from it’s own vision. Steve is Apple and I would be sad if he doesn’t take quick and effective steps for his succession. Wish that Apple should not face the same as Disney faced after Walt ?

Regards,

Pawan

Photo Credit: nziet