Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to Take Over

Tim Cook is set to step down as CEO of Apple after 15 years in the role, with longtime executive John Ternusannounced as his successor.

Per Variety, the leadership transition will take effect on September 1st, 2026. Cook will move into the role of executive chairman of Apple’s board, while Ternus, who is currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, will step into the CEO position.

The decision was unanimously approved by Apple’s board following what the company described as a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.”

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple,” Cook said in a statement. “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.”

Cook, 65, joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011, shortly before the passing of co-founder Steve Jobs. During his tenure, Apple expanded well beyond its core hardware business, launching major services including Apple Music and Apple TV+, both of which have had significant impact across the global music and entertainment industries.

Ternus, 50, has spent more than two decades at Apple, joining the product design team in 2001. Since becoming part of the executive team in 2021, he has overseen hardware engineering across the company’s full product lineup, playing a key role in the development of products including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. “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.”

Cook praised his successor as “a visionary” and said he is “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future,” adding that he looks forward to continuing to work closely with Ternus during the transition.

As part of the leadership reshuffle, Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become lead independent director. Ternus will also join Apple’s board of directors on September 1st.