Apple is preparing for its biggest leadership change in over a decade. Tim Cook will step down as CEO and become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors, while John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will take over as the company’s next chief executive officer on September 1, 2026.
The transition marks the end of Cook’s 15-year tenure as CEO and represents a carefully planned succession that the board approved unanimously. This leadership change comes at a time when Apple has reached unprecedented heights under Cook’s leadership, growing from a $350 billion company to a $4 trillion tech giant.
Apple announced that Cook will continue as CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth handover to Ternus. As executive chairman, Cook will focus on engaging with policymakers around the world and assist with certain company aspects.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple,” Cook said in the announcement. “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 without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
The choice of Ternus signals Apple’s continued focus on hardware innovation and engineering excellence. Having spent almost his entire career at Apple since joining in 2001, Ternus worked under both Steve Jobs and Cook, giving him deep institutional knowledge of the company’s culture and values.
Ternus expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying: “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. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come.”
The succession plan also includes changes to the board structure. Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become the lead independent director. Ternus will join the board of directors, both changes effective September 1, 2026.
Cook’s legacy at Apple is substantial. Since becoming CEO in 2011, he has overseen the introduction of major product categories including Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro. Under his leadership, Apple’s yearly revenue has nearly quadrupled from $108 billion in fiscal 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal 2025.
Key achievements during Cook’s tenure include:
- Growing Apple Services into a $100+ billion business
- Expanding to more than 200 countries and territories
- Operating over 500 retail stores globally
- Adding more than 100,000 team members
- Reaching 2.5+ billion active devices worldwide
- Reducing carbon footprint by 60% below 2015 levels
Cook also made privacy and security central to Apple’s identity, advocating for privacy as a fundamental human right and setting new industry standards for user protection.
Ternus brings extensive hardware expertise to the CEO role. He joined Apple’s product design team in 2001, became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013, and joined the executive team as senior vice president in 2021. Throughout his career at Apple, he has overseen hardware engineering for products across every category.
His recent contributions include helping Mac reach new heights of power and popularity, leading the development of the iPhone 17 lineup including the new iPhone Air, and advancing AirPods to include hearing health capabilities. Ternus has also focused on sustainability initiatives, including recycled aluminum compounds and innovations in product repairability.
The transition comes at a critical time for Apple as the company faces increasing competition in AI and emerging technologies. Ternus will need to guide Apple through challenges including regulatory scrutiny, market saturation in key products, and the need to identify the next major product category.
This leadership change represents only the third CEO transition in Apple’s modern era, following Steve Jobs’ return in 1997 and Cook’s appointment in 2011. The smooth, planned nature of this succession contrasts sharply with the emergency circumstances of Cook’s original appointment when Jobs took medical leave.
For Apple investors and customers, the transition signals continuity rather than radical change. Ternus has been instrumental in developing many of Apple’s current products and has worked closely with Cook for years. His engineering background and deep company knowledge suggest Apple will maintain its focus on hardware innovation and premium user experiences.