The Cook era is ending: John Ternus becomes Apple’s next CEO

Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO on September 1 after 15 years at the helm, bringing an end to one of the longest leadership eras in the company’s history. Apple’s hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company’s new CEO, while Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman of the board.

Cook became Apple’s CEO in August 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. During his tenure, Apple expanded its product lineup with devices and services including the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and Vision Pro, as well as Apple Music and Apple TV. The company has also recently reported several all-time quarterly revenue records and is entering the transition from a strong financial position.

On his final day as CEO, Cook sent a memo to Apple employees reflecting on his 15 years leading the company. He said that stepping away from the CEO role was difficult despite being at peace with his decision. He thanked employees for their work and said he was particularly proud of the company’s culture and its ability to build products that have a broader impact. He also described serving as Apple’s CEO as a privilege of a lifetime.

Cook emphasized that he is not leaving Apple altogether. As executive chairman, he will remain involved in certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.

Cook also expressed strong confidence in Ternus, saying he takes “enormous comfort” in handing the company over to him. Cook described Ternus as someone who understands what it takes to build products that can “change the world” and said he was excited about his leadership.

Ternus has spent more than 25 years at Apple and currently leads its hardware engineering organization. In a statement about the transition, Cook called him a visionary and said he is “without question” the right person to lead Apple into the future.

For Ternus, the transition marks a major step after a long career behind Apple’s hardware products. He will inherit a company that is considerably different from the one Cook took over from Jobs. Apple now has a huge global installed base, a broad hardware portfolio and a growing services business, while also facing increasing pressure to accelerate its AI efforts.

Cook also addressed the wider Apple community in a social-media post, saying that while his title would change, his connection to the company would not. He described the transition as the beginning of a new chapter and said he remained optimistic about the future.

For Apple, however, the change marks the beginning of a new era. Ternus will become only the company’s third CEO since 1997, following Jobs and Cook. His first major product event will come just eight days after taking the job. On September 9, Apple will hold its traditional September event, marking the first major product launch of the Ternus era. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and, most notably, its first foldable iPhone, reportedly called iPhone Ultra.