September 1, 2026 will officially mark Tim Cook’s final day as Apple CEO, bringing to an end nearly 15 years leading the company.
Cook took over as Apple’s chief executive on August 24, 2011, after Steve Jobs resigned because of ill health. Just weeks later, Jobs died, leaving Cook to guide Apple through one of the most closely watched leadership transitions in tech history.
Since becoming CEO, Cook has overseen some of Apple’s biggest product launches and milestones, including Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Silicon, Vision Pro, Apple Intelligence, and the company’s expansion into services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Pay.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has also grown into one of the most valuable companies in the world. When Cook became CEO in 2011, Apple was worth around $350 billion. Today, the company is valued at several trillion dollars.
While Steve Jobs was often seen as the visionary behind Apple, Cook became known for operational efficiency, supply chain expertise, and turning Apple into a far larger and more profitable company. His leadership style focused heavily on collaboration, sustainability, privacy, and long-term growth.
Earlier today, Apple confirmed that Cook will step down as CEO on September 1 and move into the role of executive chairman of Apple’s board. John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become the company’s next CEO.
Cook said leading Apple had been “the greatest privilege” of his life and described Ternus as “the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
By the time Cook steps down, he will have served as Apple CEO for just over 15 years, making him one of the longest-serving chief executives in the company’s history.