American Fortune Life

In April this year, among the 40 companies in the S\u0026P 500 index constituent stocks with the largest market value increase this year, Apple ranked first with a market value increase of US$27.4 billion. What is interesting is that Apple CEO Steve Jobs ranked second to last in the 2008 CEO salary list of 198 companies in the United States with an annual salary of $1.

Of course, the reason why Jobs does not want an annual salary is because he has something better to get, the stock rewarded by Apple.

You know, since December 31, 2008, Apple’s stock price has increased from $85.35 to $115.99 on July 3, an increase of 35.9%, and its market value has increased by $27.4247 billion, ranking first. IBM’s market value has increased by $24.0809 billion during the same period. Ranked second, Google's market value increased by 20.1437 billion US dollars during the same period, ranking third.

Undoubtedly, the biggest winner is Andy Smith. After all, he invested a lot of money to buy the bottom of the US stock market, and whether it is Apple, IBM or Google, they are all heavy stocks in his investment ratio.

In the conference room, Andy looked at Jobs who was talking to his hardcore brother Cook. When he was thinking about this, the last member of the board of directors walked in with a smile on his face, "Sorry, I'm not late..."

Andy saw the other party coming, and the smile on his face became brighter. Among the board members of Apple, there are currently 8 people, and Andy is a member of the board of directors of shareholders with a large number of shares. Greeting is the current Google CEO Schmidt.

Trust Google CEO Eric Schmidt and include him on Apple's board. Jobs has been seen as his biggest mistake.

Jobs believed that the Android system plagiarized the Apple system, all because Schmidt, as a member of Apple's board of directors, had access to Apple's core business secrets. Google's Android system is able to quickly change design direction. That's why Jobs persuaded the board to fire Schmidt from the board.

It's just that Jobs never thought that although he persuaded other board members, these board members would let Andy take over Schmidt's board position.

Andy was also very grateful for Schmidt's recommendation, so the two hugged each other very closely, sat next to each other, and chatted with each other in low voices.

In the governance structure of modern companies, the board of directors is the highest authority of listed companies. However, Apple’s directors are all nominated by the board of directors and approved by the general meeting of shareholders. Who the directors are has little to do with the shareholders.

For a long time, Apple's directors have been very disdainful towards shareholders, because they feel that they have made a lot of money for shareholders, and they don't care much about the so-called pressure from shareholders. This is also their confidence, such as , Although Apple has huge cash in its hands, Apple has not paid dividends since 1995, which can be called a super stainless steel cock.

Apple's board of directors has the right to nominate directors when the board of directors changes, which allows them to master a stable power transfer system and be able to nominate people they trust.

Therefore, as long as there is no division within the board of directors and no internal strife, then the few people on the board of directors will always control Apple. In Apple, where the shareholding is scattered and there is no actual controller, those individual shareholders and institutional investors with a total of more than 2,400 are obviously impossible to unite and act in concert to clean up the board of directors.

The directors of Apple are, Steve Jobs, the current CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, the current C0O of Apple, Robert Iger, Chairman and CEO of Disney, Zhong Binxian, CEO of Avon, Albert Gore, former US Vice President, James Bell Boeing CFO, Eric Schmidt is currently the CEO of Google, and Andy Smith is currently the president and CEO of Smith Media Group.

"Ahem, now that everyone is here, let's start the meeting." Jobs looked at the directors who were still whispering to each other,

He coughed twice, and after attracting everyone's attention, he went straight to the topic and said, "The first item of the meeting is about the director Mr. Schmidt's resignation from Apple's board of directors and the candidate to replace him.

Since the launch of the Apple iPhone, it has brought a revolutionary touch interactive operation method to mobile devices. Later, the Android system developed by Google has caught up. However, according to the information obtained, the Android system was completely designed based on the keyboard at the beginning of the design. However, After the advent of iOS, the Android system was quickly redesigned into a touch screen-based mobile control system, so that it was not pulled too far by iOS. This behavior is undoubtedly plagiarism. . .

, Keke, unfortunately, with the announcement of Android and the latest operating system plans, Google is getting more and more involved in Apple's core business areas, and Mr. Schmidt can do less and less on Apple's board of directors, because Due to the potential conflict of interest, he will have to withdraw from more meetings under the consideration of avoiding suspicion.

I believe that now is the right time for Mr. Schmidt to resign from Apple's board of directors, and I and other directors have also reached a consensus with Mr. Schmidt's resignation from Apple's board of directors. "

When Jobs said this, there was no smile on his thin face, his eyes were bright and dark, and his words had a sharp edge, which made people very uncomfortable to hear. All the directors present except Cook could not help but frown. Slightly frowning, he looked at it with some meaningful eyes and said, thanking Schmidt for his contribution to Apple over the years.

Andy couldn't help turning his head and glanced at the person involved, Schmidt. Instead, he kept smiling. He didn't blame Jobs for being rude to Google because he suspected that he stole the secret. Instead, he waited until the words fell, and After looking at each other with a serious expression, Jobs said with a sassy smile: "I had a good time serving on Apple's board of directors. This is a great company. But as Jobs said today, we have reached an agreement on this." Consensus, my departure seems like a wise decision so far.

However, for the last board meeting now, I will perform my last board duties very seriously and responsibly. As a director who is about to leave, I hereby formally submit the nomination of the director to take over my remuneration committee position - Andy Smith! "

Andy's eyes never left Jobs's face with a smile on his face. When Schmidt said his name, Andy clearly saw Jobs' eyes shrink slightly, and his expression became surprised and dignified, with anger, while Jobs When he cast his eyes on Andy, he happened to meet Andy's eyes. Seeing the faint smile on Andy's face, Jobs' expression became more and more gloomy, while Cook looked around in surprise, hoping Read something from the faces of the other directors.

"Hehe, I think this proposal is good. Andy's achievements are obvious to all the world. He has strategic decision-making and company management experience, and he is absolutely capable of supervising the company's operations. Not to mention social prestige and morality. He is a leading role model among the younger generation in the United States, and as a well-known strategic entrepreneur, he has rich experience to help the board of directors make judgments and consultations. I agree!" Former Vice President Albert Gore answered directly with a warm smile .

"Thank you, thank you for your recognition and praise." Andy thanked Gore with a smile, the smile on his handsome face was as bright as the warm sunshine.

"I have no opinion either. I fully agree with Mr. Andy Smith taking over the remuneration committee. His achievements in asset management and venture capital, there is no doubt that he has a wealth of experience and can bring leadership experience to the board. A valuable and different perspective.” Zhong Binxian, CEO of Avon, smiled and nodded at Andy.

At this time, the angry expression on Jobs's face was already very obvious. Looking at his unceasing breathing rate, he knew that he was suppressing the anger in his heart at this moment. He knew that he had been played by this group of people. However, he was not discouraged, but spoke before the fourth person except Andy spoke.

"I also have a personal candidate here, Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, my close friend. The most successful CEO in the United States in the past 20 years ranked No. 9. Ellison founded the enterprise software company Oracle in 1977. Under the pressure of fierce competition. Through his unremitting efforts, Oracle has been at the forefront of the industry today, and he has skillfully used Oracle’s abundant cash reserves to initiate acquisitions of dozens of large companies, and many acquisitions have been successful. . .”

When Jobs said the name Larry Ellison, several other directors in the conference room looked at Andy, whose smile gradually became weird, with weird and smiling eyes.

And Andy almost let out a pig cry in his heart at this time, well, I really don’t know, where did Jobs get the confidence to let Larry Ellison, a Silicon Valley madman, a bastard, compete with him, this is definitely a foolish trick, Because, only one vote from the directors other than Andy is needed, and Andy can take over Schmidt's position, and I am afraid that no one present would like Larry Ellison, a bastard, to be his colleague.

Sure enough, although Jobs was introducing Larry Ellison's resume, even James Bell, CFO of Boeing, who belonged to Jobs' lineup, Cook frowned slightly.

"Then let's vote!" Disney Chairman and CEO Robert Iger suggested calmly.

"Raise your hand if you agree with Andy Smith on the Compensation Committee—"

"brush!"

"Bang! Cough cough..." Jobs looked at all the directors who raised their hands except Cook and Andy Smith with a livid face, and coughed violently.

"Steve, are you alright? Do you want to take a rest first?" Andy, who had no sense of accomplishment, asked with great concern.

"No, thank you! Congratulations, Andy..." The expression on Jobs' face changed a few times, he suppressed the anger in his heart, squeezed out a smile, took a sip of water, looked at Andy with burning eyes and said .

"Thank you, thank you for your trust and support. I will do my best to do the work entrusted to me by the board of directors. Thank you!" Andy stood up and said with a slight bow with a smile on his face.

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