Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, handing role to John Ternus

Tim Cook will step down as CEO of Apple, with John Ternus set to take over as part of a long-planned leadership transition.

The changes will take effect on 1 September 2026. Cook will remain CEO through the summer to oversee the transition, before becoming Executive Chairman of the board, where he will focus on strategic priorities and regulatory engagement.

• John Ternus has been with Apple since 2001 and has served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering since 2021.
• He has led the development of key products including the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods, and played a central role in Apple’s transition to its own silicon.
• The appointment is part of a long-term succession plan and was unanimously approved by the board. Cook described Ternus as the right person for Apple’s future, highlighting his engineering background and leadership experience.

During Cook’s tenure, Apple’s market capitalisation grew from around $350 billion to $4 trillion, while annual revenue increased from $108 billion to more than $416 billion. The company also expanded to over 200 countries and grew its active device base to 2.5 billion.

As part of the leadership changes, current Chairman Arthur Levinson will become Lead Independent Director, while Ternus will join Apple’s board.

Apple expects the transition to proceed without major changes in strategy, maintaining its focus on proprietary technologies and an integrated ecosystem.

In an open letter to users, Cook confirmed the transition and reflected on his time as CEO, calling it “the best job in the world” and describing Ternus as “the perfect person for the job.”

He also noted that for years he started his mornings by reading emails from Apple users, saying their stories, from lives saved by Apple Watch to everyday product feedback, shaped his understanding of the company’s mission.

“This is not goodbye. But at this moment of transition, I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you. Not on behalf of the company, this time, though there is a wellspring of gratitude for you that overflows inside our walls. But simply on behalf of me.”