Jobs, who has been succeeded by chief operating officer Tim Cook, announced his resignation in a letter to the board in which he wrote: "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."

Art Levinson, Apple director and chairman of Genetech, said on behalf of the Apple board: "Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company.

"Steve has made countless contributions to Apple's success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple's immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as chairman of the board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration."

Although Jobs will continue to serve as a director and chairman of the board, his resignation from the chief executive role he first took up on an interim basis in September 1997 marks the end of an era for the California-based company, which was instrumental in the desktop publishing revolution.

Apple's Macintosh computers, which were the first commercially successful PCs to feature a mouse and a Graphical User Interface (GUI), had a profound impact on the graphic arts industry and revolutionised the way designers and pre-press companies worked.

Apple has since evolved into one of the world's leading technology manufacturers, launching market-defining products such as the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

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