Yes, I thin in this case it counts. Apple's last foray into the realm of a CEO other than Steve Jobs didn't go well, remeber it was all about "the brand". He has proven himself to be the "Chief Innovation Officer" which is what keeps Apple in the news. CEO's are otherwise a dime-a-dozen financial wiz's who make short term decisions to be sure the stock price stays high, supposedly guaranteeing shareholder return. Numerous Apple shareholders have profited by Steve Jobs' vision. Without him they are just another computer company only with proprietary hardware and software.

Right now Steve Jobs is Apple.  Sculley and the rest of the bean counters did nothing but drag Apple down.  The Market is right to be concerned about Steve's health.

Jobs has branded himself as the "vision guy", and so yes, it matters very much!

He should be thinking about continuity of vision-sharing within the company (and make it visible to the world); not that he isn't, but the Gates/Ballmer situation is in many people's minds.  Perhaps they don't have a deep bench at Apple.  Looking outside the company for leadership doesn't seem to work for Apple.

I wish Jobs all the best with whatever health concerns he's dealing with.

god with steve jobs

No single individual can "be" the company, despite Jobs' effort to equate himself with all that Apple is. How do you think that makes the worker drones feel??

Share the responsibility and the wealth but love the comapany enought that if you can't do the job Jobs then delegate or get out of the way of the bus and let someone else drive.

Jobs is a a proprietor, entreprener, renaissance visionary, creative guineas who has built Appl from day 1 to what it is today, but has failed to mentor and bring along a successor, as if there's really one to fill his shoes!!!  Hopefully, for Apples sake, he just has a cold; otherwise, apple is in big trouble!

Perception is 90% of the company's value. Even if the company could still prosper without Jobs, the public doesn't think it can.

What about Woz? Jobs is PT Barnum, abet a cool one. I'm sure there is someone could run the show, but they will need carisma how about the guy in the commercials?

People give Jobs too much credit.  He's not the one who developed the ipod, iphone or mac pro.   He hired smart people to develop those products for him.  In fact, the ipod and iphones were outsourced to a couple design firms to help with the over all look and feel of the phone, including the UI.  

Jobs is nothing more than a mouthpeice for Apple.  Strategically speaking he IS Apple and that's the way the company wants it.  The best thing they ever did was hire him as he is a motovational force that even the media just go goo goo over.  He can do no wrong, regardless of anti-trust actions Apple have been involved in over the past 3-5 years with some of their products.   Apple will still go on once Steve croaks, but for the first 6-12 months after his death, there will be a sharp decline in stocks due to the perceived idea that Apple can't go on without him.  They can, and will.  

A lot of the comments up already have Steve Jobs dead and burried.   We don't even know what he's sick with.  Relax.