Profile of Tim Cook

Hired by Steve Jobs in 1998, Tim Cook (born November 1st,1960) main responsibility was to oversee the manufacturing of Apple’s computers. The Alabama native has majored in industrial engineering at Auburn University and earned a master’s in business administration at Duke University, Before that he had worked in operations at Compaq Computer Corp.
Under Mr Cook's direction, Apple closed down most of its manufacturing operations and recast itself as a lean and flexible operation. He forged close links with Asian companies who build the hardware, cutting costs and pushing technical boundaries, and supported the move to concentrate sales efforts on a string of high-end retail outlets, which Mr Jobs initially opposed.
Cook served as Apple CEO for two months in 2004, when Steve Jobs was recovering from pancreatic cancer surgery. Cook also serves on the Board of directors of Nike.
In January 2007, Cook was promoted to COO. In 2009 Cook again served as Apple CEO for several months while Steve Jobs took a leave of absence for a liver transplant.
In January 2011, Apple's Board of Directors approved a third medical leave of absence, requested by Steve Jobs. During that time, Cook was responsible for most of Apple’s day-to-day operations while CEO Steve Jobs made most major decisions.
Cook’s temper is considered calm, he is a quiet man but— deadly. Cook is relatively withdrawn. A former college classmate described him as "not a real social person. Cook can be brutal in meetings. Cook never raises his voice, but his default frown and long, uncomfortable silent stares hint at the demanding leader underneath"I've seen him shred people," says a former executive who now works for another consumer electronics company and refused to be quoted by name. "He asks you the questions he knows you can't answer, and he keeps going and going. It isn't funny, and it's not fun."
While a select group can claim to understand Cook at work, almost nobody claims to know much about his life outside Apple. A lifelong bachelor, he lives in a rented house in Palo Alto, vacations in places like Yosemite and Zion national parks, and shows few visible signs of wealth despite having sold more than $100 million of Apple stock over the years. He's known for being the first in and last out of the office and for his grinding international travel schedule, and when he isn't working he tends to be in the gym, on a hiking trail, or riding his bike.

Source: wikipedia, gawker.com, wsj online, forbes online, CNN money