Simplify the following text for a Grade 9 native English-speaking person.
Original: NeXT 's 1997 buyout by Apple brought Jobs back to the company he co-founded , where he works as the chief executive officer ( CEO ) of Apple .
Simplified: Apple 's subsequent 1996 buyout of NeXT brought Jobs back to the company he co-founded , and he has served as its CEO since 1997 .