Apple Names Ternus CEO As Cook Moves To Executive Chairman Role

Apple Inc. has announced a leadership transition, with its long-serving chief executive officer, Tim Cook, set to step down later this year after over a decade at the helm.

The company announced that Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, passing the leadership role to John Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering. Cook will, however, continue with the company as executive chairman of the board.

Apple stated that the transition was the result of a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process” that received unanimous approval from its board, highlighting its confidence in Ternus to guide the company through its next phase of growth.

In a statement, Cook called leading Apple “the greatest privilege” of his life and voiced confidence that his successor would be able to drive innovation and carry on the company’s legacy.

After taking over as CEO in 2011 following the death of co-founder Steve Jobs, Cook leaves behind a legacy defined by transformation.

At the helm of the firm, Apple’s value climbed to $4 trillion, fueled by an expanded product ecosystem and a stronger global presence through services like digital subscriptions and wearable technology.

Under his leadership, flagship products like the Apple Watch and AirPods were introduced, alongside major growth in the company’s services business which now accounts for a significant portion of its revenue.

Ternus, a long-time Apple executive who joined the company in 2001, has played a key role in the development of several core products, including the iPhone, iPad and Mac lines. He is widely regarded as a seasoned engineer with deep institutional knowledge of Apple’s hardware ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the leadership change comes at a critical time for Apple as it faces mounting competition in artificial intelligence and evolving consumer expectations in the global technology space.

With the transition, Apple is expected to maintain continuity in its strategic direction while positioning itself to navigate emerging challenges in innovation, supply chains and next-generation technologies.