CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – Apple has announced that Tim Cook will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, while John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer effective September 1, 2026. The transition, unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, results from a comprehensive and strategic succession planning process.
Cook will maintain his position as CEO through the summer while collaborating closely with Ternus to ensure a seamless transition. As Executive Chairman, Cook will support specific company initiatives, including engaging with policymakers worldwide.
“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. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” said Cook. “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. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.”
Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will assume the role of Lead Independent Director starting September 1, 2026. Additionally, Ternus will join the company’s board of directors, commencing on the same date.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998. He was appointed CEO in 2011 and has overseen the introduction of numerous products and services, including new categories such as Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, as well as services like iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV, and Apple Music. He has also played a key role in expanding existing product lines. Under his leadership, Apple’s market capitalization has grown from approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion, representing an increase of over 1,000%. Additionally, annual revenue has increased from $108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to over $416 billion in fiscal year 2025. The company has significantly expanded its global presence, particularly in emerging markets, now operating in more than 200 countries and territories. Apple runs over 500 retail stores worldwide and has increased the number of countries with accessible Apple Stores. During this period, Apple has grown its team by more than 100,000 employees and has maintained an active device install base of over 2.5 billion devices.
“Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does,” said Levinson. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.”
Apple Services has been a key focus area under Cook’s leadership, growing to over $100 billion in revenue and establishing its position as a Fortune 40 company. Cook also played a crucial role in developing the wearables category at Apple, which now includes the industry’s most popular smartwatch and headphones, and has contributed significantly to advancements in user health and safety. Under his guidance, Apple transitioned to designing its own silicon, allowing the company to have greater control over its core technology and achieve significant improvements in power efficiency and performance, benefiting users across its product lineup.
“I want to thank Art for the incredible work he has done leading the board of directors for the past 15 years,” said Cook. “I have always found his advice to be invaluable and I appreciate his thoughtfulness and his unwavering dedication to the company. I am grateful he will serve as our lead independent director, and I look forward to working with him in my new role.”
Cook has further integrated Apple’s core values into the company’s decision-making processes and product development initiatives. Under his leadership, the company reduced its carbon footprint by more than 60 percent below 2015 levels, even as revenue nearly doubled. Recognizing privacy as a fundamental human right, Cook has prioritized privacy and security as key aspects of Apple’s mission, establishing industry-leading standards for user protection. Additionally, he has emphasized ongoing innovation in accessibility, ensuring that Apple products are designed to be inclusive for all users. Central to his leadership philosophy is the belief that Apple should be an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is treated with dignity and respect.
Ternus joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and was promoted to Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013. In 2021, he joined the executive leadership team as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. During his tenure at Apple, Ternus has overseen hardware engineering for a wide range of innovative products across various categories. He has played a key role in the development and launch of several new product lines, including the iPad and AirPods, as well as multiple generations of products across the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch families.
Ternus’s work on Mac has significantly enhanced the category, making it more powerful and globally popular than at any time in its 40-year history. This includes the recent launch of the MacBook Neo, an innovative laptop that broadens access to the Mac experience for more people worldwide. Last fall, his team’s efforts were highlighted by the introduction of a redesigned iPhone lineup, featuring the highly capable iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the exceptionally slim and durable iPhone Air, and the iPhone 17, which represents a substantial upgrade for users. Under his leadership, the team also advanced AirPods, establishing them as the top in-ear headphones globally, with industry-leading active noise cancellation capabilities and the potential to function as an all-in-one hearing health system, including over-the-counter hearing aids.
Ternus has played a key role in guiding the company’s initiatives related to reliability and durability, implementing new techniques that have significantly enhanced the resilience of Apple products. He has also led efforts in advancing materials and hardware design to reduce the environmental impact of our products, including the development of a new recycled aluminum alloy used across multiple product lines, the incorporation of 3D-printed titanium in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and innovations in repairability that have extended the lifespan of several Apple devices.
Before joining Apple, Ternus was employed as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Photos/Apple
Apple contributed to this column
