Tim Cook Reflects on His Final Days as Apple CEO in CBS Interview

After fifteen years as Apple CEO, Tim Cook is preparing to step down on September 1, 2026. In an exclusive interview with CBS News correspondent Jo Ling Kent, Cook offered a surprisingly grounded perspective when asked how he hopes history will judge his run at the top.

EXCLUSIVE: Apple CEO Tim Cook told CBS News’ @JoLingKent he hopes “people say I was a good and decent man,” as he wraps up his 15-year tenure. “If they say that at the end of the day, I feel like I have achieved something.” pic.twitter.com/qqihAGiLrE

— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) August 13, 2026

“In my view, your legacy is described by others, not yourself,” Cook said. “I hope that people will say that I was a good and decent man. And if they say that at the end of the day, I will feel like I have achieved something.”

The statement stands out for a leader who guided Apple through one of the most financially successful eras in corporate history. Cook assumed the role of chief executive on August 24, 2011, taking over during a difficult transition period shortly before the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. At the time, industry analysts questioned whether anyone could fill Jobs’ shoes or keep Apple’s culture of constant innovation alive.

Instead of trying to imitate his predecessor, Cook leaned into his operational expertise and broadened Apple’s horizon. Under his leadership, Apple expanded beyond core hardware into high-margin subscription services like Apple Music, Apple Pay, and Apple TV+. He also oversaw the launches of key new wearable categories including the Apple Watch and AirPods.

The strategy paid off massively, pushing Apple’s market valuation into multi-trillion-dollar territory and turning its services division into a massive powerhouse that rivals Fortune 500 companies on its own.

Cook’s departure marks the end of an era, but Apple’s transition plan is already firmly established. John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over as CEO on September 1. Cook will not disappear from Apple entirely, moving into the role of executive chairman of the board of directors.