Apple has announced a planned leadership transition that will see longtime CEO Tim Cook become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors.
John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026.
The transition, which was approved unanimously by the board of directors, follows what Apple described as a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process”. The tech giant is currently marking its 50th anniversary.
Cook will continue in his role as CEO during the summer as he works closely with Ternus on the transition. As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.
“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,” said Tim Cook. “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.”
He added: “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour. 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.”
John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour
Tim Cook
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said John 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.”
Arthur Levinson, who has been Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become its lead independent director on September 1, 2026. Ternus will join the board of directors, also effective September 1.
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998. He became CEO in 2011 and has overseen the introduction of numerous products and services, including new categories like Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro, and services including Apple Music, iCloud, Apple Pay and Apple TV.
Under Cook’s leadership Apple has grown from a market capitalisation of approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion.
Apple operates more than 500 retail stores and has more than doubled the number of countries in which its customers can visit an Apple Store. During his tenure, Apple has grown by more than 100,000 team members and increased its active installed base to more than 2.5 billion devices.
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