Apple has announced its biggest leadership transition in 15 years, with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook set to hand over the role to hardware chief John Ternus on September 1, 2026.
Cook, who succeeded the late Steve Jobs in 2011, will remain with the company as Executive Chairman, focusing on policy engagement and board-level responsibilities.
John Ternus, 50, has spent nearly his entire career at Apple, joining the company in 2001. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and has played a key role in developing major products including the iPad, AirPods, and the latest iPhone lineup.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple expanded dramatically, with its market capitalisation growing from around $350 billion to $4 trillion. The company now operates in more than 200 countries, with its products used by over 2.5 billion people worldwide.
Cook praised Ternus as a visionary leader with strong engineering expertise and integrity, expressing confidence in his ability to guide Apple into the future.
The leadership transition was unanimously approved by Apple’s board of directors. Arthur Levinson will move from non-executive chairman to Lead Independent Director, while Ternus will also join the board upon becoming CEO.
