Apple’s Leadership Shift: John Ternus Takes the Helm as CEO

In a historic move for the tech giant, Apple announced today that Tim Cook will transition to Executive Chairman, naming hardware veteran John Ternus as the company’s next CEO.

It’s the biggest set of leadership shifts since Steve Jobs passed the torch in 2011. In a move unanimously approved by Apple’s Board of Directors, Cook will continue in his role as CEO over the summer to ensure a smooth transition to Ternus before formally moving to the executive chairman’s office on September 1.

While the news comes as a bit of surprise for its suddenness, rumors of Cook’s departure have been gaining steam for well over a year, so the question all along hasn’t really been “if” but “when.”

It was also significant that Cook turned 65 in November, fueling additional speculation that his days in the CEO’s office might be coming to an end. While that’s not a compulsory retirement age, it’s certainly a hallmark transition.

However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman threw some cold water on this speculation a few weeks later, declaring a claim by the Financial Times that Cook was leaving by mid-2026, as “simply false.”

That comment obviously didn’t age well, but it’s not like Gurman was alone in that assumption. Cook himself seemingly quashed rumors of his impending retirement, although he also stopped short of saying he wasn’t retiring. He merely said reports that he wanted to “step back a little bit” or that he was tired were untrue, and echoed a statement he made in 2023 that he “can’t imagine life without Apple.” However, that statement has never meant he had to continue being CEO, and many pointed to the possibility of Cook following in Steve Jobs’ footsteps to become chairman of the board.

It turns out that’s exactly what’s happened. Today’s announcement isn’t about Cook “retiring” so much as transitioning to a new role — technically moving up, depending on how you look at it.

After leaving the CEO’s office, Tim Cook will become “executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors.” That effectively feels like a new role compared to that of Arthur Levinson, who has been the chairman of the board for the past 15 years and was re-elected this year in a special dispensation to stay on past his 75th birthday.

While Levinson’s title on Apple’s Leadership page remains “Chairman of the Board,” today’s announcement refers to him as the “non-executive chairman” to distinguish him from Cook’s new role. We also got a rare statement from the long-time Chairman in today’s announcement.

Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does. On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.

Arthur Levinson, Apple’s Chairman of the Board

Levinson will become Apple’s “lead independent director” after Cook takes the Executive Chairman’s seat.

I want to thank Art for the incredible work he has done leading the board of directors for the past 15 years. I have always found his advice to be invaluable and I appreciate his thoughtfulness and his unwavering dedication to the company. I am grateful he will serve as our lead independent director, and I look forward to working with him in my new role.

Tim Cook

As executive chairman, Cook will move into a much higher-level oversight role, where he 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. 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.

Tim Cook

Meanwhile, day-to-day operations will be taken over by John Ternus, who has long been considered Cook’s heir apparent and will be moving into the CEO’s office on September 1. Ternus will also join the board of directors as a function of his office.

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.

Tim Cook

John Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and became a vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 as a chief lieutenant to senior VP Dan Riccio, moving into that role upon Riccio’s reassignment in 2021. Ternus began shaping up as an obvious successor to Cook due in part to his age — at 50 he was the younger of Apple’s senior VPs by far — but also due to his role in overseeing what’s arguably the company’s most important division.