GoKawiilApple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down, and John Ternus is taking over. The CEO transition has quietly been underway for some time now. Starting today, the transition is happening publicly and will be complete this fall.
Tim Cook will become Apple Executive Chairman as John Ternus becomes Chief Executive Officer
Apple says Tim Cook will become executive chairman of the board. Ternus, who was previously hardware engineering chief, will be replaced by Johny Srouji in an expanded capacity and Tom Marieb more directly.
The CEO change will occur later this year with Ternus set to take over for Cook on September 1, 2026. Srouji and Marieb take over for Ternus today ahead of the CEO transition.
Apple confirmed the news in an Apple Newsroom post announcing the CEO transition.
Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. The transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process. Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition. As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.
Notice how that last line describes Cook’s expected work as executive chairman: engaging with policymakers around the world. Diplomacy has been a speciality of Cook’s over the last decade.
Apple’s announcement includes this quote from Cook:
“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,” said Cook. “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.”
And this quote from Ternus:
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