From 1 September, Tim Cook will be moving into the role of executive chairman, from CEO because Apple announced that John Ternus will become CEO from then.
So throughout the summer, Cook will stay in charge while working with Ternus to achieve a smooth handover. From then, he’ll keep working with policymakers around the world in his new role.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said. “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor.”
Ternus spoke about his long time at the company. “I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” he said. “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.”
How Did John Ternus Get Here?
Ternus joined Apple’s product design team in 2001. He moved into a vice president role in 2013, then joined the executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
His work has covered nearly every Apple device. He led teams behind iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. Apple said he also helped bring new product lines such as iPad and AirPods to market.
Before Apple, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
Over the years, he became highly involved in executing Apple’s hardware vision. Apple said he worked on Mac as it reached its best global position in its 40 year history, and helped lead the launch of devices such as iPhone 17 and MacBook Neo.
What Happens After Tim Cook Steps Back?
Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011. Apple said its market value went from about $350 billion to $4 trillion under his leadership, a rise of more than 1,000%. Annual revenue grew from $108 billion in 2011 to over $416 billion in 2025.
The company also expanded into more than 200 countries and territories, opened over 500 retail stores, and grew its installed base to more than 2.5 billion devices.
Cook looked back on his time leading the company. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people,” he said.
Ternus now takes over with that history behind him, he said, “I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century,” he said.
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Now, How Does The Tech World Feel About The New CEO?
Mina Arko, Founder atStudio Mina Arko, says, “Apple’s next CEO being a hardware engineer means something bigger.
“Tim Cook took Apple from $350B to $4 trillion, and yet it all felt like chasing margin over magic. The product became a vehicle for services revenue, when it should have been the other way around. Putting a product-first leader at the top is basically saying: product is the core identity of Apple again.
“With vibe coding and vibe designing, AI can now generate apps and interfaces on demand, which means that services and apps are losing their perceived value. If anyone can build an app, the App Store loses its grip. What can’t be commoditised is the physical experience, the hardware, the interaction, the object itself. I think this is key in appointing Ternus as CEO.
“Apple has always known how to invent the future. The future of work will change, and it will demand new ways of interacting with screens. Therefore, focusing on the product is exactly where Apple needs to be, and Ternus’s background is perfect for this moment.“
Promise Akwaowo, Process Automation Analyst at Royal Mail Group, says, “What many people in tech are likely feeling is cautious optimism. John Ternus is not coming in as a disruption hire; he is coming in as a product and hardware operator with deep Apple credibility, after about 25 years at the company, and he is set to become CEO on 1 September 2026.
“The real challenge in front of him is AI. Apple still has enormous strengths in hardware, ecosystem design, and consumer trust, but the market is now asking a different question: can Apple move from polished devices to AI experiences that feel genuinely useful every day?
“That is harder than adding features. It means balancing speed, privacy, reliability, and product quality all at once.
“From my perspective, people in tech will judge Ternus less on whether Apple talks loudly about AI and more on whether he helps Apple make AI feel seamless, dependable, and worth paying for. If he gets that right, he will not just steady the company after Tim Cook; he could define Apple’s next era.”
