Apple names John Ternus CEO, Cook becomes chairman
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WASHINGTON — Apple said Monday that John Ternus, the company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, will succeed Tim Cook as CEO on Sept. 1. Cook will assume the role of executive chairman. Ternus will join Apple’s board when he becomes chief and will be the company’s eighth CEO. Arthur Levinson, the company’s non-executive chairman, will become the lead independent director the same day. Cook will continue as CEO through the summer to work closely with Ternus on a smooth transition.
This marks the first CEO transition at Apple since Cook succeeded the late Steve Jobs in 2011. Cook said, "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," and reflected on his gratitude for Apple teams. During his almost 15-year tenure, he oversaw the company’s expansion into wearable technology, including the Apple Watch, AirPods and the Vision Pro. Ternus has worked at Apple for about half his life, joining four years after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, and has overseen the hardware engineering teams for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods and Vision Pro.
More context
Timeline
- 1. 1998: Tim Cook joins Apple and advances through operational roles.
- 2. 2001: John Ternus joins Apple and later leads hardware engineering.
- 3. 2011: Tim Cook becomes Apple CEO following Steve Jobs’ departure.
- 4. Apr. 20, 2026: Apple announces Cook will become executive chairman and Ternus will be CEO on Sept. 1.
- 5. Sept. 1, 2026: Scheduled date for Ternus to assume the CEO role.
Why it matters
Apple's leadership change could affect the tech you use daily. Ternus has a strong hardware background. Expect more focus on devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Keep an eye on Apple's product announcements this fall.
Sources
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