Apple Appoints John Ternus as CEO; Tim Cook to Become Executive Chairman in 2026

Apple named John Ternus as its next chief executive officer on Monday, with the long-time hardware chief set to take over from Tim Cook on September 1, 2026. Cook, 65, will transition to the role of executive chairman of the board, remaining involved with the Cupertino, California company. The announcement ends a tenure that began in 2011 and saw Apple grow from a market capitalisation of approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion. Apple described the change as a planned leadership transition, with Cook and Ternus working side by side through the summer to ensure continuity. The announcement came as a surprise to many observers, though media reports about Cook's eventual succession had been circulating for some time.

Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in Cupertino, California, in April 1976. Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became chief executive in 2011 after Jobs stepped down due to illness. Jobs died in October 2011 from complications related to cancer. The leadership change announced Monday is the first change in the position of Apple chief executive since Cook replaced Jobs in 2011. According to Bloomberg, Apple became the third publicly traded company in the world to surpass a $4 trillion market valuation when it crossed that threshold last October.

Cook reflected on his time leading the company in a letter posted on Apple's website.

„It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company.” — Tim Cook via Al Jazeera

Cook praised his successor in terms that underscored the confidence Apple's board placed in the transition. He credited Ternus with contributions spanning a quarter century at the company.

„John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.” — Tim Cook via Al Jazeera

Ternus built his career on hardware and chip transitions Ternus, 50, joined Apple's design team in 2001 and became senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021. He will become Apple's eighth chief executive officer, according to the company. Ternus is credited with leading Apple through the transition to Apple-designed chips for Mac computers, a move that contributed to renewed Mac sales growth and market share gains. He was also instrumental in the introduction of multiple product lines including iPad, AirPods, and successive generations of iPhone and Apple Watch. Ternus acknowledged the weight of the role and the legacy he inherits from both Jobs and Cook.

„I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to carry forward Apple's mission. I have spent the majority of my career here, and I have been fortunate enough to work under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as a mentor.” — John Ternus via ANSA

Ternus also pledged continuity with the company's founding principles.

„I feel honored to take on this role and promise to be guided by the values and vision that have shaped this special place for half a century.” — John Ternus via newsORF

As part of the broader leadership reshuffle, Johny Srouji, previously responsible for the development of in-house chips and sensors, will take over as head of hardware, according to reporting by newsORF.

Cook leaves behind a company transformed by services and wearables Under Cook's leadership, Apple's annual revenue grew from $108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal year 2025, a near-quadrupling of the company's top line. Cook steered Apple through the COVID-19 pandemic, trade tensions, and the tariff policies of the Trump administration, while expanding Apple's product range well beyond its original hardware focus. He oversaw the launch of new product categories including Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, as well as services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV, and Apple Music. The Vision Pro headset, however, did not reach the level of popularity achieved by other Apple products, and the company recorded delays in updating its Siri voice assistant — an update intended to bring Apple closer to artificial intelligence rivals such as OpenAI. Apple currently employs approximately 166,000 people and operates in more than 25 countries. As executive chairman, Cook will assist the company in engaging with policymakers around the world.

Apple under Tim Cook: 2011 vs 2025: Market capitalisation (before: ~$350 billion (2011), after: ~$4 trillion (2025)); Annual revenue (before: $108 billion (FY2011), after: Over $416 billion (FY2025))

AI challenge looms large over Ternus's incoming tenure The transition arrives at a pivotal moment for Apple, as the company faces intensifying competition in artificial intelligence from rivals that have invested heavily in the sector. Observers and analysts are already debating whether Ternus will govern in the mould of Cook — methodical, supply-chain-focused, and operationally disciplined — or whether he will pursue bolder product bets more reminiscent of Jobs. Like Cook, Ternus is known for his attention to detail and deep knowledge of Apple's vast supplier network, and both are described as having a balanced temperament suited to managing one of the world's largest corporations. The competitive pressure in AI is illustrated by moves elsewhere in the technology sector: Amazon announced a further investment of $5 billion in Anthropic, with plans to invest up to $20 billion in the startup over time, according to ANSA. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, and recently marked its 50th anniversary.