7 Things You Never Knew About Apples CEO Tim Cook

APApple CEO Tim Cook

Tim Cook is one of Silicon Valley's most guarded figures.

But a person doesn't remain a mystery for very long after taking the helm of one of the most closely watched companies in the world.

Just last week Cook made news by announcing he's "proud to be gay."

We've rounded up the insights that shed light on Cook as a person and demonstrate how he'll lead Apple into the future.

 Cook is a graduate of Auburn University where he studied industrial engineering. He was born in Robertsdale, Alabama.

Before joining Apple, Cook worked at former rival IBM for 12 years.

While working at IBM, he earned an MBA at Duke by taking night classes.

Cook and Jobs didn’t share much in common, except for “a fondness for the rock-and-roll greats of the 1960s,” writes Lashinsky.

Cook steers Apple with a quiet calmness.

Jay Yarow

Apple's HQ at One Infinite Loop in Cupertino.

In a meeting with executives over a problem in Asia, Cook said offhand that someone should be in China dealing with the situation. Half an hour later he turned to one exec in the room and said, “Why are you still here?” That executive left the meeting immediately and flew to China without so much as packing a bag.

While some tech execs enjoy exotic vacations or yachting around the world, Cook’s ideal vacation is "hiking in Yosemite National Park,” writes Lashinsky.

Delehanty/Neill Vimeo

Yosemite National Park

Steve Jobs’ parting advice to Cook was “to never ask what [Jobs] would do; just to do what’s right.”

Mike Nudelman/Business Insider