Gil Amelio, the chief engineer at Atari, played a pivotal role in the creation of the iconic game Pong and was instrumental in hiring Steve Jobs. His influence extended beyond Atari when he became CEO of Apple in 1996. Amelio recognized the potential of Jobs' company NeXT and decided to acquire it, which led to Jobs' return to Apple after years away.
This acquisition was crucial for Apple, as it rejuvenated the company by reintroducing Jobs’ innovative vision and expertise. Walter Isaacson chronicles this significant chapter in his biography of Steve Jobs, highlighting how Amelio's strategic decision helped to reshape Apple's future.