Steve Jobs Eager To Return To Apple, Says COO

During Apple's first quarter 2011 earnings call Wednesday, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said Steve Jobs wants to return to the chief executive officer role as soon as possible.

We do see him on a regular basis, Cook said, noting that Jobs is still a major part of Apple's strategic decision-making process. I know he wants to be back fulltime as soon as he can, Cook said, but offered no timeline as to when Jobs would return. Jobs has been on a medical leave of absence since January.

Jobs has had his share of health problems. The fifty-six-year-old has battled pancreatic cancer and undergone a pancreaticoduodenectomy, in which part of the pancreas and the duodenum are removed, to treat the disease. He also had a liver transplant in 2009.

In January, a year and half after his first leave of absence, Job announced a second departure. This, he said, would allow him to focus on his health as he left Apple's day-to day work to Cook.

Jobs last made his appearance on March 2, during the announcement of the iPad 2.