Steve Job’s six-month leave of absence has the media and my Apple-loving friends wondering about the future of Apple. I’ve always thought that all the press that Job’s health was getting was a bit much — people get sick, get over it! — but the fact that the last Macworld event was hardly an event (compared to what we’ve come to expect from Apple keynotes) does indeed have me worried for Apple. Who will be the next face of the company? Surely NOT Philip Schiller. Zzz…

There is only one man who can fill Steve’s black turtleneck and jeans. That man, in my opinion, is Jonathan Ive, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Industrial Design. He’s been Stevie J’s ace in the hole, responsible for design innovations: from the original iMac to the iPod to the iPhone.

Mr. Ive seems to have a presence about him that I think would translate beautifully to Apple keynote speeches, where he could wax poetic about the beauty of the products he designs. On top of everything else, he sorta looks badass and has a british accent!

Here are two clips with Jonathan Ive:

C’mon, Apple. Your future is right there in front of you…

P.S.
Bold prediction: Come June, Steve Jobs will make one final apperance at an Apple event to introduce some sort of huge new product, then ride off into the sunset.