Long before John Ternus was chosen to become Apple’s next CEO, he spent around a decade working under Steve Jobs during one of the company’s most important eras.
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 as part of the company’s product design team, arriving just as Jobs was leading Apple through its comeback years following his return to the company in the late 1990s.
That means Ternus worked directly under Jobs for roughly 10 years before Jobs stepped down as CEO in 2011.
During that period, Apple launched products including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, and the first Apple TV, while also transforming from a struggling computer company into one of the most influential businesses in the world.
Ternus initially worked on products like Apple’s Cinema Display before gradually moving up through the engineering ranks. Over time, he became involved in more of Apple’s major hardware efforts and later took on leadership roles across the iPad, Mac, AirPods, and iPhone teams.
Following Apple’s announcement that he will become CEO in September, Ternus reflected on his time working under both Jobs and Tim Cook.
“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 said.
Ternus will officially take over as Apple CEO on September 1, 2026, becoming only the fifth person to lead the company.