Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking a medical leave of absence until the end of June. Jobs told employees in an email message that his health issues were more complex than he originally thought. Apple's chief operating officer Tim Cook is stepping in to run the company during Jobs' absence.

Here's the text of Jobs' email to employees:

Team,

I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.

In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.

I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.

Steve

The news is reverberating through the tech world. Jobs, who has steered Apple's successful product line including the iPod and iPhone, recently said that his noticeable weight loss was due to a treatable hormone imbalance.

We'll be watching this story as it develops.

UPDATE: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen issued this statement today:

"I wish Steve a speedy recovery from his medical issues. He has made extraordinary contributions to the personal computer industry, and I really enjoyed working with him in the early days of the Macintosh."

Allen left Microsoft in the early 1980s as he battled Hodgkin's disease, and late last year made news when he missed a ceremony in his honor because of an undisclosed medical procedure.