Tim Cook will step down as Apple’s chief executive officer on September 1, 2026, handing over the role to John Ternus after 15 years at the helm.
Cook announced the transition in an internal message to employees, stating he will become Apple’s executive chairman while remaining involved in the company’s direction. The change follows a period of internal preparation, with Ternus having already begun assuming responsibilities ahead of the official handover.
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and has spent over two decades in hardware engineering, most recently serving as vice president of hardware engineering. His career at Apple includes contributions to the development of the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods, as well as overseeing the transition to Apple-designed processors in Mac computers.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple’s market value grew from approximately $350 billion to nearly $4 trillion, with the company reaching a $1 trillion valuation in 2018 as the first publicly traded U.S. Company to do so. Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011 following Steve Jobs’ resignation due to health reasons.
Ternus has spent 25 years at Apple and has been involved in nearly all major product launches. He stated he feels “full of optimism” about what the company can achieve in the coming years, while analysts note Apple’s continued reliance on the iPhone as a primary growth driver and caution that the company must deliver more disruptive innovation to meet evolving market expectations.
For more on this story, see John Ternus to Succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO.
Critics have pointed to Apple’s relatively slow pace in artificial intelligence development compared to rivals like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, which have made significant investments in the field. This has raised questions about whether the new leadership can accelerate innovation beyond incremental updates to existing products.
The succession plan has been discussed internally for some time before becoming public, allowing for a structured handover period during which Cook will continue to lead operations through the summer while supporting Ternus’ integration into the role.
This follows our earlier report, Kids App Safety: Age Verification for Apple & Google.
Why is Tim Cook stepping down as CEO now?
Cook stated he is taking the next step in his professional journey at Apple, moving to the role of executive chairman after 15 years as CEO, and believes the timing is right for new leadership to guide the company’s future.
What experience does John Ternus bring to the CEO role?
Ternus has over 25 years at Apple, primarily in hardware engineering, and has played a key role in developing products including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple’s transition to custom processors in Mac computers.
Will Tim Cook remain involved with Apple after stepping down as CEO?
Yes, Cook will become Apple’s executive chairman and continue to support the company, particularly in areas such as government relations, while assisting Ternus during the transition period.