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Reports indicate Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus is emerging as the leading internal candidate to eventually succeed CEO Tim Cook. The framing centers on the scale of what he would inherit: a company with enormous revenue, market value and global reach built under Cook's leadership.
John Ternus, now Apple's CEO, sent his inaugural company-wide memo thanking Tim Cook for his leadership and years of service, and noting Cook will remain executive chairman. Ternus also flagged an upcoming major product launch and hinted at future innovations still in development.
As Tim Cook departs as Apple CEO, he leaves a climate record widely seen as better than peers among major tech companies, having set a goal to cut emissions 75 percent by 2030 from 2015 levels and reaching 60 percent so far. Apple reported 15.3 million metric tons of gross emissions in 2025, even as it faced criticism over sustainability claims and now confronts growing energy demands from generative AI development.
Tim Cook has ended his 15-year run as Apple's chief executive, handing the role to John Ternus, who becomes only the third person to lead the company this century. In his final message to employees, Cook referenced Steve Jobs, echoing the same gesture he made in his first memo to staff when he took over as CEO.
John Ternus sent his first internal memo after officially becoming Apple's CEO, thanking outgoing chief Tim Ternus... rather Tim Cook for his guidance and years of leadership, and welcoming him into his new role as executive chairman. Ternus told staff a 'huge launch' is coming next week and hinted at further undisclosed products in development.
9to5Mac Daily's September 1, 2026 episode covers reports that Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus taking over the role. The daily podcast recap summarizes this leadership transition alongside other top Apple stories of the day.
John Ternus formally took over as Apple's chief executive today, succeeding Tim Cook after his 15-year run atop the company. Cook now moves into the role of executive chairman, and Ternus is expected to make his first major public appearance as CEO at Apple's launch event next week, where new iPhones and Apple Watches are anticipated.
Tim Cook appeared in the Oval Office to praise President Trump and presented him with a glass-and-gold trophy in front of press cameras, an event the author calls the most embarrassing act ever done in Apple's name. The piece contrasts Cook's deferential display with Steve Jobs' history of defying authority and institutions, noting Jobs himself was the son of an immigrant on a student visa.
Bloomberg reported that Apple shares delivered a 2,736% total return during Tim Cook's tenure as CEO, growing the company from a $350 billion business to a $4.6 trillion one. Commentary responding to that data argues incoming CEO John Ternus shouldn't feel pressure to replicate those numbers, pointing to Steve Jobs' and Cook's own philosophy that financial results should follow great products rather than be pursued directly.
Apple's leadership page now lists John Ternus as CEO, with Tim Cook moving into a newly created Executive Chair role on the Board of Directors. The board section has also been redesigned to include headshots for all members, including Cook and Ternus, who joins as a director in his new capacity.
Over his 15 years as Apple CEO, Tim Cook navigated increasingly tense relations between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, helping Apple avoid the worst fallout from a US-China trade war while keeping manufacturing operations in China intact. His approach included storing some Chinese user data on mainland servers starting in 2014, complying with Chinese app removal demands, and staging high-profile displays of goodwill with Trump, such as touring a Mac Pro plant together.
Apple has installed John Ternus, previously its senior vice president of hardware engineering, as chief executive, succeeding Tim Cook as of September 1st. Johny Srouji has been elevated to chief hardware officer as part of the leadership shuffle.