Apple has confirmed that September 1, 2026 will mark Tim Cook’s final day as CEO, bringing to an end nearly 15 years leading the company.
Cook will step down from the role and become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors, while Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, will become the company’s next chief executive officer.
“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. “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.”
Cook also praised Ternus, saying he has “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor.”
Cook first became Apple CEO on August 24, 2011, after Steve Jobs resigned because of ill health. Just weeks later, Jobs died, leaving Cook to lead Apple through one of the most significant transitions in the company’s history.
During his time as CEO, Cook oversaw the launch of products including Apple Watch, AirPods, Vision Pro, Apple Silicon Macs, and Apple Intelligence. Apple also expanded heavily into services during his tenure, with Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Pay, Apple Arcade, and Fitness+ all launching under Cook’s leadership.
When Cook became CEO in 2011, Apple was worth around $350 billion. Today, the company is worth several trillion dollars, making it one of the most valuable businesses in the world.
The man set to replace him, John Ternus, has spent nearly his entire career at Apple. Ternus joined the company in 2001 and has risen through the engineering ranks over the past 25 years.
He currently serves as Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, overseeing the teams behind the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other major hardware products.
Ternus first worked on products like the Apple Cinema Display before later taking on leadership roles across the Mac, iPad, and iPhone teams. He became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and replaced Dan Riccio as Apple’s top hardware executive in 2021.
Over the years, Ternus has helped oversee some of Apple’s most important products, including the original iPad, Apple Silicon Macs, AirPods, and redesigned Mac Pro models. In recent years, he has also become one of Apple’s more visible executives, frequently appearing in keynote presentations and product videos.
At 50 years old, Ternus is younger than many of Apple’s other senior leaders, which is thought to be one reason why Apple’s board viewed him as a natural long-term successor to Cook.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor.”
Ternus added that he is “filled with optimism” about Apple’s future and promised to lead “with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”