Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role on September 1, 2026, ending nearly 15 years at the helm of the world’s most valuable company. The tech giant announced Monday that John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will succeed Cook as chief executive.
Cook will transition to become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors following what the company described as a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process” unanimously approved by the board.
Ternus Brings Decades of Apple Experience
The 50-year-old Ternus has spent more than two decades at Apple, joining the company in 2001 and rising to Senior VP of Hardware Engineering in 2021. He has overseen development of major Apple products including the iPad, AirPods, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.
“John has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity,” Cook said in announcing his successor. “He is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
Cook will remain as CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth handover to Ternus. Meanwhile, Johny Srouji will take over Ternus’s hardware responsibilities as the new chief hardware officer in an expanded role.
Cook’s Transformative Legacy
The leadership transition marks Apple’s first CEO change since Cook replaced company co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011. Under Cook’s stewardship, Apple’s market value soared to over $4 trillion, with shares appreciating more than 1,700%.
Cook transformed Apple from primarily a computer and phone maker into a services and ecosystem powerhouse, expanding into areas like streaming, payments, and augmented reality while maintaining the company’s reputation for premium hardware design.
The September 2026 transition date gives Apple nearly two years to execute the succession plan and allows Ternus time to prepare for leading one of the world’s largest corporations by market capitalization.
