Apple Bombshell: Tim Cook Could Step Down Soon, Insiders Claim

Apple is holding more serious internal discussions about who will eventually replace Tim Cook, according to people who spoke with the Financial Times. The sources say succession planning, long an ongoing background process, has recently become more active among board members and top executives.

Those familiar with the talks told the FT that Cook, now 65, could choose to step aside as early as next year. Several of the paper’s sources said John Ternus, Apple’s senior hardware chief, is the leading internal contender, though nothing has been finalized and the timing could still change.

People close to the company told the newspaper that the renewed planning isn’t tied to Apple’s current performance. They expect a strong holiday period for the iPhone, and say the conversation is more about long-term leadership stability.

According to the FT, any formal announcement would likely wait until after Apple’s next earnings in late January, giving a new CEO time to settle in before major events later in the year.

Cook has led Apple since 2011, during which the company’s value has soared and its influence expanded. The Financial Times notes that several of Cook’s longtime deputies, such as CFO Luca Maestri and COO Jeff Williams, have recently shifted out of their roles, adding to the sense of transition.

Sources told the FT that choosing Ternus would return Apple to a leader with deep hardware experience at a time when the company is pushing into new product areas and trying to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence. Cook has previously said Apple keeps detailed succession plans and prefers internal candidates.

We knew Cook would be retiring at some point. But 2026 would be a much faster timeline than expected, if this is true.