Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO; John Ternus Named Successor

Apple has announced a major leadership transition as Tim Cook prepares to step down from the top job. John Ternus, currently the head of hardware engineering, will become the company’s new chief executive officer on September 1, 2026. It has been long rumoured that Ternus would replace Cook as CEO, and Apple made the announcement on Monday afternoon.

Cook is not leaving the company entirely. He will move into a new role as executive chairman of the board. In this position, he plans to focus on oversight and working with government policymakers globally.

The change comes after a long-term planning process by Apple’s board of directors. Cook will remain CEO through the summer to help Ternus prepare for the takeover.

“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. 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 who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” said Cook.

“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman,” said Cook.

Ternus started in the product design team in 2001 and has moved steadily up the ranks. He recently led the teams responsible for the iPhone 17 lineup and the new MacBook Neo.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus. “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. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. 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.”

As part of the shake-up, Arthur Levinson will step down as chairman after 15 years to become the lead independent director.

Another big change is Johny Srouji is taking over the responsibilities previously held by Ternus. Srouji’s new title of Chief Hardware Officer gives him oversight of almost every physical aspect of Apple’s lineup. He will now lead the hardware engineering teams responsible for the design and system engineering of the iPhone, Mac, and iPad, while continuing to run the hardware technologies organization.

Under Cook’s leadership since 2011, Apple’s market value grew from $350 billion to $4 trillion, and its yearly revenue nearly quadrupled. But also under his tenure the iPhone has remained stagnant and stale. Let’s see some real innovation and hopefully it will arrive this fall with the ‘foldable’ iPhone.

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