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Apple confirmed a leadership change that had long been expected. Tim Cook will leave the CEO post on September 1, 2026, and John Ternus will take over, while Cook stays on as executive chairman.
Good to Know
Apple is closing one of the longest chapters in Big Tech leadership. After leading the company since 2011, Tim Cook will hand the CEO job to hardware chief John Ternus on September 1. Cook stays inside the business as executive chairman, while Ternus also joins the board. Arthur Levinson will shift to lead independent director.
The company Cook leaves behind is far larger than the one he inherited. Under his run, Apple grew into a roughly $4 trillion company, while services rose into a business worth more than $100 billion a year. Apple also turned wearables into a major category during that period.
Ternus comes from deep inside the product side of Apple. He joined in 2001, rose to vice president of hardware engineering in 2013, and became senior vice president in 2021. Apple has tied him to major hardware lines across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods. Reuters also pointed to his role in the recent iPhone Air launch.
Cook said:
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple.”
Ternus added:
“I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
Apple also quoted Cook on Ternus, calling him “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
He takes the role on September 1, 2026.
He will remain at Apple as executive chairman.
He has led hardware work across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods.