Apple has announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO after more than a decade in the role, with John Ternus set to take over on September 1.
Tim Cook was officially announced as Apple’s CEO on August 24, 2011
Cook, who has led Apple since 2011 following Steve Jobs, will remain with the company as executive chairman. Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, will also join Apple’s board of directors. Meanwhile, Arthur Levinson will transition to the role of lead independent director after serving as non-executive chairman for 15 years.
The leadership transition has been anticipated and marks the end of one of the most significant CEO tenures in modern corporate history. Cook took charge during a period of uncertainty following Jobs’ passing and went on to transform Apple into a $4 trillion company, with annual revenue growing more than fourfold under his leadership.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple,” Cook said, expressing gratitude for the team and the company’s impact on customers worldwide.
Cook joined Apple in 1998, initially focusing on fixing its struggling supply chain. His operational expertise quickly turned manufacturing into a key competitive strength. Although he was not originally seen as Jobs’ successor, his steady leadership during multiple periods when Jobs stepped back made him the natural choice to take over.
While his tenure included some challenges, such as the mixed reception of the Vision Pro headset, it was largely defined by major successes. Under Cook, Apple built a services business generating over $100 billion annually and expanded into wearables, with the Apple Watch becoming a global leader in the smartwatch market.
Levinson praised Cook’s leadership as “unprecedented and outstanding,” noting that his values and integrity have shaped the company’s culture.
Ternus, 51, has spent most of his career at Apple, joining the company in 2001 after a brief stint in virtual reality design. He rose through the ranks to become one of the youngest members of Apple’s executive team and has played a key role in developing products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods.
He has also been instrumental in advancing product durability, repairability, and sustainability, including the use of recycled materials and improvements that extend device lifespans.
In a statement, Ternus said he is honored to step into the role, having worked under both Jobs and Cook. Cook described him as the right leader for Apple’s future, highlighting his engineering mindset, innovative thinking, and leadership qualities.
