Apple announced that Tim Cook will resign as CEO, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus poised to take the helm starting September 1.
Leadership Transition
Cook, who joined Apple in 1998 and succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011, will shift to executive chairman, advising on global policy matters. The change follows months of speculation, positioning the 45-year-old Ternus—who has shaped iPhones, iPads, AirPods, Macs, and Apple Watches over 25 years—as his successor.
Statements from Both
Cook called leading Apple “the greatest privilege of my life,” praising Ternus as a “visionary” with “the soul of an innovator” ready for the future. Ternus, crediting Cook as his mentor, expressed deep gratitude and optimism for Apple’s path ahead.
He added: “He [Ternus] is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character.”
Mr Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and, during his 25 years at the company, has been involved in a number of its major product releases, including the iPad and AirPods, as well as several generations of iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch.
He referred to Mr Cook as his mentor and said he was “profoundly grateful” for the opportunity to “carry Apple’s mission forward”.
“I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come,” he added.
