Dell and Jobs: Sometimes the vision guy is the guy for the job

Posted Jan 31st 2007 6:02PM by Julie Tilsner
Filed under: Apple Inc (AAPL), Dell (DELL), Entrepreneurs

The news today that Michael Dell has stepped back into the driver's seat of Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) makes me think of that other company that started big, tripped bad and didn't regain its footing until the guy who started it returned to the fold.

I'm thinking, of course, of Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAP) (until recently Apple Computer, Inc.). Founder Steve Jobs was forced out in 1985 by John Sculley, and, after a twelve year train wreck of failed products and low stock prices, Jobs returned ready to rock and roll in 1997 (ousting then-CEO Gil Amelio).

We all know what Apple went on to become under Job's creative and loving eye. Are good things in store for Dell now that the guy who started the company back in 1984 with $1,000 and a lot of chutzpah is back in charge? It would be about time. Dell made our Best and Worst (focus here on the Worst) list for 2006. Remember the exploding laptop battery incident?

Any other examples you can think of when the best guy for the job is the guy with the original vision?

Tags: Apple, Apple Inc., AppleInc., Dell