Apple sets CEO succession plan as Tim Cook prepares to step down after 15 years leading the company
The company’s hardware chief, John Ternus, will take the helm next year
An era at Apple will come to an end this September, and it won’t be due to the arrival of a new iPhone, but rather a new leader at the helm of the company. This afternoon, Apple announced that Tim Cook, who took the helm of Apple following the passing of Steve Jobs, will step down as CEO effective September 1, 2026, after 15 years in the role. Starting on that date, the current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, will take his place at the helm of the Cupertino, California-based company.
The transition of the position will take place over the summer, during which Cook will hand over responsibilities to Ternus; this has been approved by Apple’s board of directors. As for Cook, this will not mark the end of his tenure at the company, as he will assume the role of executive chairman of the board.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” 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 who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”
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Temus’s appointment is backed by a long-standing commitment to the company’s latest hardware initiatives. Since joining Apple as part of the product design team in 2001, he has played a key role in many of the company’s devices, from the launch of the iPad and AirPods to the recent announcement of the MacBook Neo and the latest iPhone 17 lineup. Under his leadership in Hardware Engineering, Apple introduced features such as hearing aid capabilities for AirPods, improved device repairability to extend product lifespans, and pioneered the use of sustainable materials like the 3D-printed titanium found in the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
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