Apple to 'Decelerate' In Post-Jobs Era, Analyst Says

It's hard to imagine any tech company that has been more successful in the last decade than Apple Inc. With its iPhone, iPad, and iPod dominating three major markets, the sky seems to be the limit for the Cupertino, California-based giant.

But some people "think different." According to one prominent analyst, Apple profits will soon plateau and begin a slow but steady decline.

Absence of "Magical" Leader Steve Jobs Will Hurt Apple

The report comes from Forrester Research chief executive officer (CEO) George Colony. In a recent blog post, he wrote that the loss of Steve Jobs, former Apple chairman, CEO, and a "special, magical leader," will prove devastating for the iconic firm.

"Apple will decline in the post Steve Jobs era," Colony predicts. He adds that the company will continue its past trajectory only if Jobs will "be succeeded by another charismatic [person]".

Obviously, Colony thinks those types of people are extremely rare and that it's unlikely Apple will find one. (Source: pcmag.com)

Citing economic theorist Max Weber, Colony insists that Apple will begin to "coast" in the coming 24 to 48 months before beginning to "decelerate". (Source: ebnonline.com)

Current CEO the "Legal/Bureaucratic" Type

It would appear that Colony thinks less well of current Apple CEO, Tim Cook, than some other observers. However, Colony doesn't bash Cook in his post. Instead, he simply suggests Cook is just the wrong type of person for the job.

In fact, Colony calls Cook a "legal/bureaucratic" type, which the Forrester analyst says "will prove to be a mismatch for an organization that feeds off the gift of grace." (Source: pcmag.com)

Colony also suggests that Apple turn away from Cook and move either Jonathan Ive (senior vice president of industrial design) or Scott Forstall (senior vice president of iOS software) into the role of CEO.

Colony's predictions may influence others, if only because he's daring to make a bold and contrary statement while most other analysts predict that Apple's share price, currently hovering around $600, could soon top $800 or even $1,000.