NEW YORK — Apple Inc. co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, whose recovery from pancreatic cancer appeared less certain when he had to take medical leave in January, received a liver transplant two months ago but is recovering well, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The newspaper didn’t reveal a source for the report, which comes as Jobs, 54, is expected back in his day-to-day duties at the company shortly. CNBC said later that it had confirmed the Journal’s account, which said Jobs had the transplant performed in Tennessee.

When asked for comment, Apple spokesman Steve Dowling reiterated the company’s standard line about the CEO’s health: “Steve continues to look forward to returning to Apple at the end of June and there is nothing further to say.”

Few CEOs are considered as instrumental to their companies as Jobs has been to Apple, which has expanded from a niche computer maker to become the dominant producer of portable music players and a huge player in the cell phone business. News and rumors about his health send Apple stock soaring or plunging.

Jobs disclosed in August 2004 that he had been diagnosed with — and cured of — a rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor.

It’s likely that Jobs had part or all of his pancreas removed in 2004, said Dr. Lewis Teperman, vice chairman of surgery and director of transplantation at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

After the pancreas, the liver is the “next stop” for a tumor since blood drains from the one organ to the other, said Teperman, who did not treat Jobs.