Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail + People Deirdre O’Brien has shared a series of photos showing how Apple employees marked Tim Cook’s final day as CEO, with hundreds of team members gathering at the Apple Park Visitor Center to celebrate his 15 years leading the company.
The images, shared by O’Brien on Instagram, show Cook surrounded by Apple retail employees during an emotional farewell gathering. A large display inside the store carried the message “Thank you, Tim,” while employees formed a guard of honor, applauded Cook and gathered for a huge group photograph.
The celebration took place on Cook’s final day as chief executive, before John Ternus officially took over as Apple CEO on September 1.
O’Brien, who has worked closely with Cook and oversees Apple’s global retail organization, described it as a special opportunity for retail employees to thank the outgoing CEO.
Image: Deirdre O’Brien/Instagram
“It has been a privilege and an honor to watch Tim in action for so many years,” O’Brien wrote on Instagram. “We appreciate everything you have done for us as CEO, and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”
She said Cook had consistently expressed his gratitude toward Apple employees around the world for their commitment to customers, adding that his visit to the Apple Park Visitor Center created “another unforgettable moment in our stores.”
The photographs capture Cook walking through lines of applauding employees, posing for photographs and embracing O’Brien. Other images show the pair taking selfies with team members and Cook standing at the center of a large group photograph beneath the “Thank you, Tim” message.
The gathering capped an emotional final day for Cook, who sent a farewell memo to Apple employees before stepping down, thanking them for what he described as the “privilege of a lifetime” serving as their leader.
Image: Deirdre O’Brien/Instagram
Cook became Apple CEO in August 2011 following Steve Jobs’ resignation and went on to lead the company for 15 years. His tenure saw Apple expand into major new product categories with Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro, alongside the rapid growth of its Services business and the transition of the Mac to Apple silicon.