Tim Cook, who has been with Apple since 1998, will take office as executive chairman of the board of directors.
John Ternus (left) and Tim Cook (right)
Photo Credit: Apple
Apple veteran Tim Cook will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the company announced on Monday. The leadership transition, which is set to take place later this year, will see Cook hand over the reins to a senior executive within the company. The move, which the Cupertino-based tech giant claims was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, marks one of the most significant leadership changes at Apple since Cook took over the position after the passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011.
In a newsroom post, Apple announced that Tim Cook will take office as executive chairman of the board of directors. John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple, will take over as CEO starting September 1, 2026. Cook will continue as CEO through the summer and work closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition, as per the company.
Apple said that Cook will remain actively involved in the company in his new role, particularly in areas such as engagement with global policymakers.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple… I love Apple with all of my being,” Cook said, adding that Ternus is “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
Ternus, in his statement, said, “I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple's mission forward… I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Arthur Levinson, who has served as non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become lead independent director. Ternus will also join Apple's board of directors on September 1. Levinson praised Cook's tenure, stating that his leadership “transformed Apple into the world's best company,” while expressing confidence that Ternus is the “best possible leader” to take the company forward.
Tim Cook, notably, joined Apple in 1998 and was appointed the CEO in 2011. Over the past 15 years, he has overseen one of the most transformative periods in the company's history. Under his leadership, Apple's market capitalisation grew from around $350 billion to $4 trillion, while annual revenue rose from $108 billion in 2011 to over $416 billion in 2025.
Cook led the expansion of Apple into new product categories such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, while also scaling its services business, including iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV+, and Apple Music, into a $100 billion segment.
He also spearheaded Apple's transition to in-house silicon, which is one of the most notable transitions in the company's history. During Cook's tenure, the tech giant is also claimed to have reduced its carbon footprint by over 60 percent while expanding its presence to more than 200 countries and territories.
John Ternus has been with Apple for over two decades, joining the company's product design team in 2001. He became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and was elevated to the executive team in 2021. Apple claims he has played a key role in shaping Apple's hardware roadmap across multiple categories over the years.
Ternus has overseen engineering work on products including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods, and has been instrumental in launching new product lines. Under his leadership, Apple has also made strides in hardware design, including developments in the Mac lineup and newer iPhone generations.
His technical background includes a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and prior experience as a mechanical engineer.
Previously, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted that John Ternus is the youngest member of the executive team at the company and thus, offers the longest potential runway. Further, Ternus oversees Apple's hardware vision, which is one of the tech giant's core businesses, and is “highly regarded” by both Cook and former Apple Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Williams.
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