Time Magazine on Thursday published the 2016 edition of its annual 100 Most Influential People list, once again including Apple CEO Tim Cook among its chosen politicians, artists, celebrities, and corporate executives.
Cook's profile was written by Bob Iger, the chairman and CEO of Disney, and a member of Apple's board of directors. Iger used the opportunity to promote Cook as a "leader of great courage and character," with high ethical standards, and a willingness to encourage "vital conversations about who we are as a culture and a community."
Iger suggested that Cook has led Apple's brand to "new heights," both in terms of its industry status and how the public perceives its values.
Since Cook assumed control of the company from Steve Jobs in 2011, Apple has adopted a more openly political stance, for instance tackling LGBT rights and environmental issues. Perhaps more controversially Cook has ramped up a focus on privacy, entering into high-profile skirmishes with the U.S. government over encryption. iOS 8 and 9 -- developed under Cook's watch -- are so secure that with a passcode enabled, even Apple claims it can't crack them, short of rewriting the software's code.
Cook is a regular staple of Time, appearing not only in lists but often in feature interviews, particularly when a new product is expected to launch.