Apple has officially announced that Tim Cook will resign from his position as CEO and move to chairman of the supervisory board later this year. This brings to an end a remarkable era at Apple, in which Cook led the company for more than fifteen years. He was the driving force behind Apple’s continued growth after Steve Jobs, making the company one of the most influential and valuable technology companies in the world.
His successor is John Ternus, who has played an increasingly prominent role in Apple’s hardware division in recent years. An experienced leader, Ternus is well known within the company and seen as the person who can shape the next phase of Apple, at a time when innovation, silicon, AI and product innovation are more crucial than ever.
Tim Cook hands over the reins
Apple has officially announced that Tim Cook per September 1, 2026 will assume the position of chairman of the supervisory board, while John Ternus will take over the position of CEO of the company. This marks the end of a special era: Cook has since 2011 took control of Apple and in fifteen years transformed the company into an even larger, more profitable and more influential technology giant.
This transition is not abrupt, but the result of a careful and lengthy succession process that has been unanimously approved by the board of directors. Cook will remain active as CEO until the summer and will then continue to be involved in contacts with global policymakers in his new role.
Tim Cook and his milestones
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998 and succeeded Steve Jobs as CEO in 2011. Under his leadership, Apple’s market value rose from approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion, while annual revenue nearly quadrupled from $108 billion in fiscal 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal 2025. The number of active Apple devices also reached more than 2.5 billion.
Cook gave Apple a decidedly broader direction during his leadership. He introduced new product categories such as the Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Proand expanded its services business to include iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV and Apple Music. In addition, he focused heavily on Apple Silicon, privacy, accessibility, sustainability and the international expansion of the retail ecosystem, with more than 500 Apple Stores spread across more than 200 countries and regions.
Who is John Ternus?
John Ternus is no stranger, but a true veteran within Apple. He joined the product design team in 2001 and was appointed in 2013 vice president of Hardware Engineering and in 2021, he was promoted to senior vice president of Hardware Engineering and member of the executive team. Apple describes him as having “the mind of an engineer and the soul of an innovator” and emphasizes that he has played a crucial role in the company’s hardware development over the past 25 years.
Ternus has overseen hardware engineering for virtually all major product lines, including the iPad, AirPods, iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch. According to Apple, his work on the Mac has had a significant impact on the success of that product line, which is now more powerful and popular than ever. In addition, his team was involved in issues such as reliability, durability, new material applications and improvements in product repairability.
Meaning for Apple
Ternus’ appointment emphasizes that Apple values continuity and technological expertise. As head of hardware, he brings extensive experience in product development, especially at a time when Apple is investing heavily in hardware, silicon, AI innovations and other advancements. Ternus’ first big announcement will be the foldable iPhone, which is scheduled for September. With this introduction, Apple wants to emphasize that John Ternus is leading the company to the next phase.
Tim Cook’s stay at Apple does not imply a break, but rather a careful change of power with a clear internal successor. Cook will remain involved as chairman of the supervisory board, while Ternus will take on the responsibility of determining Apple’s direction in the coming years.