After the icon is gone

摘要

Call it the midlife crisis of the technology industry. As such icons as Bill Gates and Scott McNealy reach their 50s and 60s, they are leaving their CEO jobs and handing the reins of their companies to the next generation. More than a few legendary CEOs are stepping aside. Last year, Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs handed off the CEO role to his son, Paul, and Linear Technology founder Bob Swanson left the corner office. And this summer Cisco Systems announced that CEO and President JohnT. Chambers would drop the title of president and become chairman. Although he's still expected to remain CEO for at least three years, it's obviously the first move in a succession plan.