Apple Announces Leadership Transition: John Ternus to Succeed Tim Cook as CEO

Apple has announced that CEO Tim Cook will become executive chairman of the board and John Ternus will succeed him as Apple's next chief executive officer, effective September 1, 2026. The leadership transition was approved unanimously by Apple's Board of Directors following a long-term succession planning process.

John Ternus, currently Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will take over as CEO while Tim Cook transitions to executive chairman, where he will continue to assist with certain aspects of the company including engaging with policymakers worldwide. Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011, during which time he oversaw Apple's growth from a $350 billion market capitalization to $4 trillion and nearly quadrupled yearly revenue from $108 billion to over $416 billion.

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and has led hardware engineering for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro. His leadership has driven innovations including the MacBook Neo, iPhone 17 lineup, and advancements in AirPods that enable over-the-counter hearing aid functionality. Throughout his tenure, Ternus has focused on reliability, durability, materials innovation, and repairability initiatives that have increased product lifespans and reduced environmental impact.

Arthur Levinson, Apple's non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become lead independent director on September 1, with Ternus joining the board of directors effective the same date.

This leadership transition represents the first CEO change at Apple since Tim Cook succeeded Steve Jobs and comes as Apple continues to expand its global footprint across more than 200 countries and territories while maintaining over 500 retail stores worldwide.