Apple's Post-Jobs Power Structure Takes Shape With Levinson as Chair

Arthur Levinson, current chairman of pharmaceuticals company Genetech Industries, was appointed the non-executive chairman of Apple's board Tuesday. Levinson has been an Apple board member since 2000.

It's the first change in the company's boardroom since the death of Steve Jobs in October. Levinson will take over Jobs' spot as chairman, a role Jobs created when he stepped down as CEO in August.

The 61-year-old was hand-picked by Jobs for a spot on the board when he first joined and is one of the longest-serving of Apple's current directors.

The company also announced that Robert Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, will serve on Apple's board and the audit committee. Overseas expansion and mobile media are two of Iger's specialities, and those areas are where Apple is looking to broaden its reach.

Arthur Who?

Levinson got his start in technology upon earning his PhD in biochemistry at Princeton. He started as a research scientist at Genetech in 1980. Soon, he was the vice president of research technology, then senior vice president of research and development. By 1995, he was the CEO; he added chairman of the board to his title in 1999. When the company was acquired by Roche in 2009, Levinson stepped down as CEO but remains chairman.

Since then, Levinson has served on a number of corporate boards, most notably Google, where he's been a director since 2004. Five years later, though, as Apple and Google became more heated rivals, a federal investigation pressured him to choose between Cupertino and Mountain View.

Levinson chose Apple, stepping down from Google's table.

"It seems that Levinson is appreciated on many levels at Apple, including loyalty and contribution. The guy is clearly a rocket scientist that chose to study biology instead of outer space, and in typical Apple fashion, the more geniuses the better," Kevin Dede, analyst at Brigantine Investors, told MacNewsWorld.

While Levinson doesn't carry the broad name recognition of the company's departed cofounder, he's well known inside the industry. His knowledge of the company, loyalty and expertise within the field make him a comfortable choice from within Apple's circle.

"Levinson sounds like he's been groomed for that position. He's not a new appointment, he knows the company very well, so it's really a natural progression given the state of the company right now," Jeff Fidacaro, senior equity analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group, told MacNewsWorld.

Murky Waters

Though Jobs' leadership over the past decade and a half brought Apple from the brink of financial collapse to the top of Wall Street, the company's board was sometimes criticized for too often bowing to the CEO. But with the loss of its dynamic and forceful leader, departmental executives and board members could participate in more collaboration or have a greater say in major company decisions.

"Given the change here in leadership, there's going to be some dynamics at play, particularly from the boards influence," said Fidacaro.

Though Levinson is unlikely to make major changes to current business operations, it's possible he will be part of a larger sphere of influence starting to form after Jobs' death.

"There was a clear vision from Steve Jobs for the direction of the company. It sounds like, from the investor community, that Tim Cook sent the message he is open to changing capital allocation at the company, which needs to have the approval of the board. In that respect, dynamics are going to be changing," said Fidacaro.