Apple has announced a formal leadership transition, with senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus set to become the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) on September 1, 2026. Current CEO Tim Cook will step down from the role to become the executive chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors.
The transition follows a long-term succession plan and was approved unanimously by the board of directors. Cook will maintain his role as CEO through the summer to facilitate a handover with Ternus. In his new capacity as Executive Chairman, Cook will focus on select corporate initiatives, including global policy engagement.
As part of the board restructuring, Arthur Levinson—who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years—will assume the role of lead independent director on September 1. Ternus will concurrently join the board of directors.
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998 and took over as CEO in 2011. During his 15 years as chief executive, Apple underwent significant financial and structural expansion.
John Ternus
John Ternus has been with Apple for 25 years, having joined the product design team in 2001. He was promoted to vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and elevated to the executive team as senior vice president in 2021.
Prior to his time at Apple, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ternus played an instrumental role in the evolution of the iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iPhone. Recently, he oversaw the launch of the MacBook Neo, as well as the iPhone 17 lineup, which includes the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and the newly introduced iPhone Air.
Regarding the transition, Tim Cook said:
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. 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
John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. 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, said:
I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward. 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.