Technology Feast

Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who filled in as CEO of the company for the first half of 2009, was awarded a one-time bonus of $5 million and 75,000 restricted shares of stock in recognition of “his outstanding performance in assuming the day-to-day operations of the Company,” according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Jobs, who announced a six-month medical leave in early January 2009, recommended the bonus to the board. Marketing VP Phil Schiller became the face of Apple, filling in for Jobs to deliver Apple’s final keynote speech at the 2009 Macworld show. But Cook was running the show from corporate offices in Cupertino while Jobs - we later learned - underwent a liver transplant.

Jobs returned to work at the end of June and has resumed his position as the company’s public face, most recently hosting a press event to announce the iPad.

Cook’s 75,000 shares will be awarded in two parts. Half are scheduled to vest on March 10, 2011 and the other half one year later, subject to Cook’s continued employment with the company.