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Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, will take over as CEO of the tech maker later this year, after current CEO Tim Cook announced on Monday that he would be stepping down.
Cook will transition to executive chairman of the company’s board of directors. The company said the transition followed a “thoughtful long-term succession planning process” and was unanimously approved by the board of directors.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as CEO of Apple and to be trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a statement.
“I love Apple with all 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 commitment to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” he added.
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John Ternus will become Apple’s CEO on September 1, 2026, while Tim Cook will transition to Apple Executive Chairman. (Reuters/Reuters)
The change in leadership marks the first change in the company’s top leadership in 15 years, when Cook replaced Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Ternus will take over as CEO on September 1 and lead the company into the next phase of innovation. When he takes on this role, he will also join the board of directors.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to continue Apple’s mission,” Ternus said in a statement. “Having spent nearly my entire career at Apple, I have been fortunate to work under Steve Jobs and have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much about the way we interact with the world and with each other.”
He joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013. Eight years later, he joined the executive team as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, where he oversaw work on many of the company’s business operations. flagship products on iPhone, Mac, iPad, AirPods and Apple Watch.
Ternus also recently led the team behind the new MacBook Neo and the redesigned iPhone 17 series. Apple credits its leadership to advancements in AirPods, including active noise cancellation and capabilities that allow them to function as an all-in-one hearing care system, including over-the-counter hearing aid features.
In addition, he has led efforts focused on sustainability, material innovation and sustainability, including the use of recycled aluminum and new manufacturing techniques. Ternus has also played a key role in Apple’s transition to proprietary silicon.
John Ternus will take over as CEO of Apple on September 1 (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“I’m filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the coming years, and I’m so happy to know that the most talented people in the world are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than us,” he said. “I am humbled to serve in this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Cook praised Ternus for having “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator and the heart to lead with integrity and honor.”
“He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over the past 25 years are now too numerous to count, and he is undoubtedly the right person to lead Apple into the future,” said Cook. “I couldn’t be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him through this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.”
Apple shares fell slightly (less than 1%) in after-hours trading following news of the leadership change, which some analysts said was not surprising.
“This transition should not come as a shock as Cook has reached retirement age and Ternus has long been rumored to be the successor,” Jacob Bourne, a technology analyst at EMARKETER, told Reuters. “Cook remaining as CEO until September before continuing as executive chairman should provide some reassurance to investors even as markets react negatively to near-term uncertainty.”
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Tim Cook said it has been “the greatest privilege of my life to be CEO of Apple.” (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
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Rick Meckler, a partner at Cherry Lane Investments, told the outlet that he is “not surprised that the initial reaction is that the shares are slightly lower.”
B. Riley Wealth chief market strategist Art Hogan also said Cook “would never leave if the numbers were bad, so I think that’s the biggest thing.”
“They are about to report numbers, and you know they will be good,” he added. “You know the guidance is going to be positive. And you know we’re going to hear more about how they’re going to use artificial intelligence to improve their products.”
Ternus will acquire Apple at a time when it is facing antitrust scrutiny worldwide. This includes a landmark case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and more than a dozen states alleging that Apple maintained an illegal monopoly by using its control of the iPhone to stifle competition. European and Asian governments have also tried to punish Apple for allegedly exploiting its dominant position in the industry.
