Apple's Tim Cook to step down as CEO, John Ternus to take over in September
Apple has announced that CEO Tim Cook will step down in September after nearly 15 years at the helm, with the company's hardware engineering head John Ternus taking over the top job, according to multiple reports. Cook will remain with the Cupertino-based company as executive chairman, a transition that was approved unanimously by Apple's board of directors.
A new era for Apple
John Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, will become CEO effective September 1, according to reports from The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and other outlets. Cook, 65, will remain as chief executive through the summer to work with Ternus on a smooth transition, as reported by ABC Australia.
Ternus's appointment ends years of speculation about who would succeed Cook, with reports from outlets including The Jerusalem Post noting that the answer was something of a surprise, as Ternus was not considered the frontrunner in public discussions. The announcement comes as Apple aims to demonstrate it remains competitive in artificial intelligence, an area where some investors see it lagging rivals, according to reporting from Al Jazeera and The Economist.
Ternus: A hardware veteran with a design touch
Ternus is a longtime Apple insider who has been with the company for more than two decades. He joined in 2001, worked on product design, and rose to lead hardware engineering, overseeing development of products including the iPad, AirPods, and Apple's M-series chips that replaced Intel processors in Mac computers, according to a profile by ABC Australia.
According to a company press release, Cook praised Ternus as having "the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor." For his part, Ternus said in a statement: "Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor."
A tenure defined by growth and innovation
Cook, who succeeded Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011, has overseen a period of extraordinary growth. According to reporting from The Guardian and TASS, Apple's market value has grown from $350 billion to $4 trillion during Cook's tenure, while its annual profit now tops $100 billion. His leadership has been marked by blockbuster products like the Apple Watch and AirPods, as well as a strong emphasis on services and privacy.
Cook said leading Apple "has been the greatest privilege of my life." He will now serve as executive chairman, a role in which he'll continue to work on certain aspects of the company, such as engaging with global policymakers, per ABC Australia.
What's next for Apple
The handover comes at a critical juncture for Apple, with the company facing intensified competition and pressure to innovate in artificial intelligence. While Apple has been tight-lipped about its AI strategy, reports from multiple outlets indicate that the company is under pressure to keep pace with rivals.
In a related development, Apple also announced that Johny Srouji, who has led its custom chip and sensor design, will be the company's first chief hardware officer, according to multiple reports.
The transition will take effect on September 1, 2026, marking the end of one era at Apple and the beginning of another.