Apple CEO Tim Cook turned 65 on November 1, leading to renewed speculation about when he might step down and who might replace him.
Four names have led the rumors to date, although the one most frequently mentioned was ruled out back in the summer …
Tim Cook isn’t going anywhere yet
Tim Cook just turned 65, an age at which many people retire. With more money than he could ever spend, and a plan to give most of it away, clearly there is no financial impetus for him to remain in post.
However, there is no sign of him retiring anytime soon. While he said back in 2021 that he doesn’t expect to still be at Apple in 2031, that’s still some time away. It was reported later that year that he wanted to oversee one more major new product category before stepping down. Since Vision Pro is merely a niche interim product, the most obvious candidate here is an Apple Glasses device.
However, when it comes to a decision of this magnitude, it’s obvious that the company has to begin succession planning a considerable time in advance.
The potential successors as Apple CEO
For a great many years, there was one very obvious candidate: Jeff Williams. As chief operating officer, Williams held the role from which Cook was promoted. The COO role is also one which gives one of the broadest bird’s-eye views of the company.
That idea ended back in July when it was announced that Williams was stepping down from the COO role ahead of his subsequent retirement later this year.
Top of the prospects list now is John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of hardware engineering. A report earlier this year said that he was well respected throughout the company, and Eddy Cue reportedly favors him.
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