Apple has announced a major leadership change. Tim Cook will step down as Chief Executive Officer and move into the role of executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors. John Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over as the next CEO of Apple starting September 1, 2026.
Cook will stay closely involved during the transition period this summer. He is also expected to lead Apple through WWDC 2026 in June before handing over full operational control later in the year.
Tim Cook said leading Apple has been the greatest privilege of his life and expressed gratitude toward Apple’s teams. He also described Ternus as an engineer at heart with strong leadership qualities, calling him the right person to lead Apple into the future.
John Ternus said he is deeply grateful for the opportunity and highlighted his long career at Apple, where he has worked since 2001. He said he learned from both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook and is optimistic about Apple’s future direction.
Apple also confirmed that Arthur Levinson, who has served as non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become lead independent director starting September 1, 2026. Ternus will also join Apple’s board of directors on the same date.
Tim Cook has led Apple since 2011, when he succeeded Steve Jobs. Over the past 14 years as CEO, he oversaw Apple’s transformation into one of the world’s most valuable companies, expanding its services business, strengthening its supply chain, and launching major product lines including Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Silicon Macs. Overall, Cook has been with Apple for more than 25 years.
John Ternus, his successor, has been with Apple since 2001. He started in the product design team and later became vice president of hardware engineering in 2013. Over the years, he has played a key role in developing Apple’s modern hardware strategy, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac transitions.
In a statement, Ternus said he has spent almost his entire career at Apple and learned from both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. He also expressed optimism about Apple’s future and what the company can achieve next.
Apple has not publicly detailed every reason behind the choice, but based on his career and Apple’s usual leadership style, several factors stand out.
Ternus has deep hardware experience. Apple is still strongly hardware driven, and his background in product engineering aligns closely with the company’s core focus. He has been directly involved in major product decisions for over two decades.
He is also part of Apple’s long-term internal leadership pipeline. Apple is known for promoting from within rather than hiring external CEOs. This ensures continuity in design philosophy, product strategy, and company culture.
Another key reason is stability. Ternus represents continuity with the Cook era while still being younger and more hardware-focused, which may help Apple navigate future product shifts like AI devices, spatial computing, and next-generation Macs and iPhones.
His long tenure also means he understands Apple’s supply chain, manufacturing ecosystem, and global operations, which are critical parts of the company’s success under Cook.
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