Apple Inc has announced a major leadership transition, with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook set to step down after 15 years in the role.
He will be succeeded by the company’s hardware engineering chief, John Ternus, following unanimous approval by Apple’s board. The change is expected to take effect on September 1, 2026.
Cook will remain in office until the end of the summer before moving into the position of Executive Chairman.
As part of the wider board restructuring, current chairman Arthur Levinson is expected to become Lead Independent Director, while Ternus will also join Apple’s board.
Ternus, 50, started his career at Apple in 2001 in the product design team and has since risen through the ranks to become Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. He has been closely involved in the development of major Apple products including the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
He also played a key role in Apple’s transition from Intel processors to its in-house silicon for Mac computers, a shift widely credited with improving performance and energy efficiency.
