January 29, 1990: Apple CEO John Sculley appoints Michael Spindler as the company’s new chief operating officer. It ended with the line: “Apple beats with two hearts — our California heart and the heart of the local company.”Spindler’s next promotion made him head of Apple Europe. While the U.S. division struggled, however, Apple Europe fared much better. Michael Spindler becomes Apple CEO in 1993As mentioned, the promotion to COO did not mark the end of Michael Spindler’s rise within Apple’s management ranks. When Sculley was ousted as Apple CEO in 1993, Spindler took over the reins as CEO.