Apple announced a sweeping leadership transition on Monday, naming longtime executive John Ternus as its next chief executive officer in September. Current CEO Tim Cook will move into a new role as executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors at that time.
“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,” said Cook in a statement. “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.”
Apple reshuffles leadership as Tim Cook moves to chairman role
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011, taking over from co-founder Steve Jobs. Under his 15 years of leadership, the company expanded from a market capitalization of approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion — a more than 1,000% increase. Annual revenue nearly quadrupled, from $108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal year 2025.
He oversaw the introduction of numerous products and services, including new categories like Apple Watch and AirPods, and services ranging from iCloud and Apple Pay to Apple TV and Apple Music.
In the Monday statement, Cook praised Ternus as the obvious choice to take the reins.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Cook said. “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.”
Cook, 63, is expected to continue playing an active role at the company in his new position as executive chairman, including engaging with policymakers and supporting key strategic initiatives.
Apple taps hardware chief John Ternus as next CEO
Photo: Apple
John Ternus had been considered the most likely candidate to take over as Apple CEO, but Monday’s move to make him CEO-in-waiting nevertheless comes as something of a surprise. No solid leaks indicated that Cook intended to retire at this time.
Ternus has spent more than two decades at Apple and currently serves as senior vice president of hardware engineering, overseeing development of many of the company’s flagship products.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus in the statement. “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.”
Ternus also expressed optimism about Apple can achieve in the years to come.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The Apple leadership change will take effect September 1, 2026, following what the company described as a long-planned succession process approved unanimously by Apple’s board of directors. Apple said Cook will remain CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth transition, working closely with Ternus before handing over day-to-day leadership.
Johny Srouji gets a big promotion, too
On Monday, Apple also promoted Johny Srouji — the man who led the incredibly successful development of Apple silicon — into Ternus’ previous role. He will take over as Apple’s chief hardware officer, effective immediately, in a move that expands his responsibilities across the company’s hardware divisions.
Srouji most recently served as Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies. Now he will oversee both Apple’s hardware engineering organization and its hardware technologies group.
The move consolidates Apple’s hardware development efforts under a single leader, placing Srouji in charge of the company’s silicon, component technologies and product engineering. Meanwhile, Apple continues to integrate its hardware and software more closely.
More coverage:
- Apple preps for a post–Tim Cook era
- Why John Ternus as Apple CEO would be a big win for the iPad
- Apple turns 50: Tim Cook thanks users in heartfelt anniversary letter
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
