ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – After serving several times as the company’s acting CEO, Robertsdale native Tim Cook is now officially the company’s top man after founder and CEO Steve Jobs stepped down on Wednesday.

According to a release issued on Wednesday, Apple’s Board of Directors announced that Jobs had resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board named Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs was elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” said Art Levinson, chairman of Genetech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple has been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board Wednesday and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

“I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it,” Jobs stated in the letter, “and I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.”

Cook was named acting CEO three times since 2004, the last in January when Jobs went out on medical leave.

Cook, a native of Robertsdale and a 1978 graduate of Robertsdale High School, received a B.S. degree in industrial engineering from Auburn in 1982, and began working for Apple in 1998. Cook’s parents, Donald and Geraldine, still live in Robertsdale.

After graduating from Auburn, Cook attended Duke University in Durham, N.C., and received his M.B.A. Then he spent 12 years at IBM as director of North American Fulfillment for manufacturing and distribution of the company’s personal computer division in North and Latin America. He also served as vice president of Corporate Materials for Compaq and CEO at Intelligent Electronics.

In addition to his work at Apple, Cook serves on the board of directors at Nike Inc., and the National Football Foundation.