Tim Cook has sent an emotional memo to Apple employees on his final day as CEO, thanking staff for the “privilege of a lifetime” as he prepares to hand the role to John Ternus.
Cook’s final day as Apple CEO comes ahead of one of the most significant leadership changes in the company’s history, with Ternus set to officially take over on September 1. Apple announced the transition earlier this year, confirming that Cook would become Executive Chairman while Ternus, Apple’s longtime hardware engineering chief, would become the company’s next CEO.
According to 9to5Mac, Cook sent the memo to Apple employees this morning, reflecting on his time leading the company and praising the teams behind Apple’s products, services, and culture.
The message comes as Cook brings an end to his 15-year run as CEO, having succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011. During his time in the role, Apple launched products and services including Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, Apple TV+, and significantly expanded its Services business.
Cook also used the memo to express confidence in Ternus, saying he takes “enormous comfort” in handing the role to someone “brilliant and wonderful and capable.” Cook has previously praised Ternus publicly, calling him the “perfect person” to lead Apple.
“Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership,” Cook wrote.
Ternus, who has spent 25 years at Apple, will take over just days before Apple’s next major product event on September 9, where the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone. The Apple Post has a full breakdown of what to expect from Apple’s September event.
Cook’s full memo reads:
Team,
Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.
The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.
There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.
As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.
I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.
I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.
With all I have and all I am, I am always
Yours,
Tim
Cook will remain at Apple as Executive Chairman, meaning he is not leaving the company entirely. However, today marks the end of his time leading Apple day to day, closing one of the most successful CEO tenures in modern technology.
For Ternus, the transition begins immediately. The Apple Post has previously detailed everything to know about John Ternus, including his long history inside Apple and his role overseeing some of the company’s most important hardware products.