Tim Cook will step down as Apple chief executive officer on September 1, 2026, ending a 15-year tenure in the role and handing leadership of the technology com...
Tim Cook will step down as Apple chief executive officer on September 1, 2026, ending a 15-year tenure in the role and handing leadership of the technology company to John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
Apple announced that Cook will become executive chairman of the company’s board of directors, while Ternus will join the board and take over as CEO on the same day.
The leadership change was unanimously approved by Apple’s board and follows what the company described as a long-term succession planning process. Cook will continue working with Ternus through the summer to support the transition.
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As executive chairman, Cook will continue to assist Apple in certain areas, including engaging with policymakers around the world.
Cook became Apple’s CEO in August 2011 after Steve Jobs stepped down because of his declining health. He had previously served as Apple’s chief operating officer and played a major role in the company’s operations and supply chain.
During Cook’s time as CEO, Apple expanded its product and services portfolio, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Apple Music, Apple TV and Vision Pro.
Apple has also reported strong financial performance in recent quarters, with the company recording all-time quarterly revenue records in several recent periods.
Reflecting on his departure from the CEO position, Cook described leading Apple as the greatest privilege of his life and thanked the company’s employees for their work.
Ternus, who has spent much of his career at Apple, is taking over after serving as the company’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. Apple said he has played a major role in the development of its products and in efforts involving reliability, durability, materials and product design.
Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ternus said he was honoured to continue Apple’s mission and expressed confidence about the company’s future under his leadership.
Apple’s board chairman Arthur Levinson also praised Cook’s leadership and said the board believed Ternus was the right person to succeed him. Levinson will become Apple’s lead independent director on September 1.
The transition will mark a significant leadership change for Apple, but Cook will remain involved with the company in his new executive chairman role.
