Apple’s leadership transition will place John Ternus in the CEO role on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook after 15 years at the helm. Cook will remain with Apple as executive chairman of its board, making the change a shift in day-to-day leadership rather than a full departure.
Ternus, previously Apple’s head of hardware engineering, takes over following a succession process that had been prepared over time. Cook is expected to continue working across several areas of the company, including its relationships with political leaders.
In a message to employees marking the end of his CEO tenure, Cook focused on the people behind Apple rather than the company’s sales, revenue or market value. “I love this company and the team behind it, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to be your leader,” he wrote.
Cook became CEO in 2011, following Steve Jobs. During his tenure, Apple expanded its hardware lineup with products including Apple Watch and AirPods, introduced Apple Silicon chips, and built a major services business alongside the iPhone.
The handover gives Ternus the task of leading Apple after an era defined by operational discipline and sustained growth, while Cook remains close to the company as executive chairman. Apple has confirmed the September 1 transition date, but has not detailed how responsibilities will be divided between its incoming CEO and executive chairman after the change.
