Apple announced Monday that CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role, marking the end of a tenure that reshaped the company into one of the most valuable businesses in the world. Cook will transition to executive chairman of Apple’s board, while longtime executive John Ternus will take over as CEO on Sept. 1.
“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,” Cook said in a statement.
Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, oversaw a dramatic rise in the company’s value — from roughly $350 billion when he took the helm to about $4 trillion today. His leadership era included the expansion of Apple’s ecosystem, major advances in wearables, and continued dominance in consumer technology.
In naming his successor, Cook offered strong praise for Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran who currently serves as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Cook said. “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.”
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and rose through the ranks, playing key roles in the development of major product lines including the iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch. He became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and has since been a central figure in Apple’s product strategy.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. “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.”
Ternus, who worked under Steve Jobs and later under Cook, described the outgoing CEO as a mentor.
The leadership transition comes just weeks after Cook publicly reflected on Apple’s legacy ahead of its 50th anniversary in an interview with “Good Morning America.”
“What a reflection,” Cook said at the time.
Asked about Apple’s impact over the decades, Cook pointed to the company’s role in reshaping multiple industries. “You can focus on the product moments — reinventing music, reinventing the smartphone, bringing the creative arts to the table, the creative graphics. Saving people’s lives with the watch,” he said.
Despite those reflections, Cook had recently downplayed speculation about stepping aside.
“I love what I do deeply,” he said in the same interview. “Twenty-eight years ago, I walked into Apple and I’ve loved every day of it since. We’ve had ups and downs, but the people I work with are so amazing. They bring out the best in me. And hopefully, I can bring out the best in them. And I can’t imagine life without Apple.”
Now, that chapter is coming to a close — though Cook will remain closely tied to the company as executive chairman.
READ NEXT: Powerhouse Law Team Heads To Court To Pry Open Pre‑COVID Secrets
This seems legit—Apple has officially announced that Tim Cook will step down in September 2026 and transition to executive chairman, with John Ternus taking over as CEO.
Big shift for Apple, but since it’s a planned transition, it’ll be interesting to see how things evolve under new leadership.
Tim Cook leaves behind an impressive legacy. Leading Apple after Steve Jobs was never going to be easy, but he helped transform the company into a global powerhouse. It will be interesting to see how John Ternus leads the next chapter of Apple’s journey.