Apple CEO Tim Cook ranked well on CNN Money’s list of best CEOs of 2014 taking the top spot of CEO of the year. The news organization said Cook has “arguably the toughest CEO job in America” as he battles critics skeptical of his performance running Apple without Steve Jobs and cited the company’s 40% stock climb this year as well as the debut of the iPhones 6 and Apple Pay ahead of the Apple Watch early next year.
Anyone starting to see a pattern this year? CNN isn’t alone in honoring the Apple CEO with a nod as a significant player in 2014.
Earlier this month, the Financial Times awarded Tim Cook with ‘Person of the Year’ title for the same reasons as CNN—great new products and climbing stock price—but the FT also gave nod to Cook’s personal essay on his sexuality published earlier this year and his decision for Apple to acquire Beats for $3 billion.
Cook was also nominated as a finalist for the ultimate Person of the Year spot from Time Magazine for the same reasons as CNN and the Financial Times, although ultimately the spot went to the ebola fighters.
Runner up to Tim Cook on CNN’s CEO of the year list? BlackBerry CEO John Chen, whom they call the comeback kid, followed by Microsoft’s newly appointed CEO Satya Nadella following Steve Ballmer’s exit this year. T-Mobile CEO John Legere makes the list as well, probably in part due to his charismatic charm. Check out the full list here.
