Transition at Apple: Tim Cook to move to executive chair as John Ternus is named CEO

Tech giant Apple is set to get a new chief executive officer. John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, was named to take the reins from Tim Cook, who will transition into the role of executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors.

This marks a major milestone in the 50-year history of the company, which has had only seven permanent CEOs. Cook has been at the helm of Apple since 2011, when he took over from co-founder Steve Jobs.

For 15 years, Cook has guided Apple through a period of unprecedented growth and cultural shifts. When Cook took the top job, Apple was already a powerhouse, but it was far from the behemoth it is today.

Under his stewardship, the company’s market capitalisation grew to a staggering $4 trillion from about $350 billion, a growth of more than 1,000%. Annual revenue grew nearly 4x from $108 billion in 2011 to more than $416 billion in FY2025. These figures highlight a period of financial success that is virtually unparalleled in corporate history.

Cook’s tenure was defined not just by financial growth but also by the expansion of Apple’s ecosystem into new categories. He oversaw the introduction of Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro. He also turned Apple Services into a massive business. The services division, which includes products like iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple Pay, now generates more than $100 billion in revenue annually.

Furthermore, Cook drove the company towards owning its primary technology by transitioning to Apple-designed silicon, essentially custom-made chips that provide better power efficiency and performance than standard industry components.

The decision for the leadership change was approved unanimously by Apple’s board of directors. Cook will remain as the CEO through the summer months, working closely with Ternus to facilitate a seamless handover.

In his new capacity as executive chairman, Cook is expected to remain involved in high-level strategy, specifically by assisting with global policy engagement. This move allows Apple to retain Cook’s experience in navigating complex international regulations while giving Ternus the room to implement his own vision for the company’s future.

As Ternus prepares to take the lead, he inherits a company with an immense legacy at the peak of its powers, with a massive global footprint and a reputation for excellence.

New chapter

Apple will enter a new chapter as Ternus steps into the CEO role officially on September 1, 2026.

In Ternus, Apple has chosen a successor who has spent nearly his entire career within the company’s walls. Having joined the product design team in 2001, Ternus has been a part of the Apple family for 25 years. His rise through the ranks has been steady, moving from being the vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 to joining the executive team in 2021.

A mechanical engineer by training, Ternus holds a degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His professional background shows a deep-seated focus on the physical creation of products.

Ternus has had a direct hand in many of the products that define modern computing. His work has spanned iPad, AirPods, and multiple generations of iPhone and Mac. Most recently, his team has been credited with the introduction of MacBook Neo, a laptop designed to be more accessible to a wider global audience, as well as iPhone 17 Pro and the ultra-thin iPhone Air.

His leadership has also seen Apple push the boundaries of what its devices can do for personal health, such as transforming AirPods into a hearing health system that can function as over-the-counter hearing aids.

The choice of Ternus suggests a shift back towards a product-first leadership style. While Cook was known as an operational genius who perfected the supply chain, Ternus is described by Cook as having “the mind of an engineer” and “the soul of an innovator”.

Ternus himself has noted the influence of both Jobs and Cook on his career, suggesting that he would strive to balance the visionary drive of the former with the disciplined leadership of the latter. He has promised to lead with the “values and vision” that have come to define Apple over the last half century.

Beyond these changes, there are other notable shifts within the board of directors.

Ternus will join the board of directors. Arthur Levinson, who has served as the non-executive chairman for 15 years, will transition to the role of lead independent director on September 1, 2026.

The transition at Apple is more than just a change in personnel. It is a testament to the company's long-term planning and its ability to cultivate talent from within. Cook has expressed confidence in Ternus, stating that he is “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future”.