Author Says Forstall Wants Apple CEO Gig

Apple’s senior vice president for iOS Software, Scott Forstall, apparently wants to take the reigns as CEO. Author Adam Lashinsky makes that claim in his soon to be released book, “Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired — and Secretive — Company Really Works.”

Scott Forstall wants to be Apple CEOMr. Lashinsky hasn’t spoken with Mr. Forstall, but that isn’t stopping him from claiming he’d love to have the job Tim Cook currently holds. Mr. Cook took on the CEO role in 2011 after Steve Jobs retired.

Word that Mr. Forstall wants Apple’s top job came through people that are familiar with Apple but aren’t part of the company, as well as former employees, according to CNN Money.

Mr. Forstall has a long history with Apple. He joined the company in 1997 after Apple bought NeXT where he worked with Mr. Jobs. He managed Mac OS X development, and then later took over iOS development.

“He’s a sharp, down-to-earth, and talented engineer, and a more-than-decent presenter,” one source told Mr. Lashinsky. His downside, they claim, is that he doesn’t try to mask his ambition.

Assuming he really is gunning for the CEO slot, Mr. Forstall may have a long wait ahead of him. Apple’s board and shareholders seem happy with Mr. Cook’s performance, and there aren’t any indications that he might be considering leaving any time soon.