TIME Magazine has just released its list of The World’s 100 Most Influential People, and Apple’s CEO made the list. This is pretty significant in itself, but when you factor in that Cook was following in the footsteps of Steve Jobs, it’s hugely impressive that he’s been able to forge his own successful path and get recognized for doing so.

Each member of the highly revered list gets a short writeup from other significant figures, and Mr. Cook got the written equivalent of a standing ovation from none other than  former Vice President of the United States and current Apple board member Al Gore. According to him,

“It is difficult to imagine a harder challenge than following the legendary Steve Jobs as CEO of Apple. Yet Tim Cook, a soft-spoken, genuinely humble and quietly intense son of an Alabama shipyard worker and a homemaker, hasn’t missed a single beat.

Fiercely protective of Jobs’ legacy and deeply immersed in Apple’s culture, Cook, 51, has already led the world’s most valuable and innovative company to new heights while implementing major policy changes smoothly and brilliantly.

He has indelibly imprinted his leadership on all areas of Apple — from managing its complex inner workings to identifying and shepherding new “insanely great” technology and design breakthroughs into the product pipeline.

Cook’s personal discipline, physical regimen and work hours reflect a philosophy summarized in his 2010 Auburn University commencement speech, in which he quoted President Lincoln: “I will prepare, and someday my chance will come.”

Highly ethical and always thoughtful, he projects calmness but can be tough as nails when necessary. Like the great conductor George Szell, Cook knows that his commitment to excellence is inseparable from the incredible ensemble he leads at Apple. Szell was noted for saying, “We begin where others leave off.”

Cook’s chance has come. What a beginning!”

That’s quite the assessment. It’s clear that any doubts regarding Tim Cook as CEO were entirely unfounded. Apple is definitely in good hands. Walter Isaacson, author of the very popular Steve Jobs biography, also made the list and received a writeup from former U.S. Secretary of State and now the chair of Albright Stonebridge Group Madeline Albright.

You can check out the full list here. Is there anyone that you think should be on there that isn’t?

Via: TIME