Apple Thoughts: Steve Jobs: From CEO to Elder Statesman

"Apple announced Wednesday that CEO Steve Jobs is stepping down. It's unclear what role he'll play as the new chairman."

In one of Geekdom's most popular games, the speculation has started as to the role that chairman Steve Jobs will be playing at Apple. There seem to be two management styles at the top: a combined CEO and chairman, consolidating all the power at the top; and, separation of the CEO and chairman functions, sharing the power. I think that as Apple moves forward, Tim Cook will assume a higher profile, but that Steve Jobs will still be there doling out wisdom and product direction, in short, as an elder stateman / sage / oracle. The jobs appear to remain the same, only the titles are changing.