Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, John Ternus named Successor

Apple chief executive officer (CEO) Tim Cook will step down from the top position and will become the company's executive chairman of the board of directors, the iPhone maker announced on Tuesday, April 21 (IST).

John Ternus, the firm's senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over as CEO effective on September 1, 2026. Apple said that Cook will continue to lead the company as CEO through the summer, as he will work closely with Ternus on a smooth transition.

“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, adding, "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."

Praising his successor, the 65-year-old said, "John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour. 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."

Ternus, who joined Apple’s product design team in 2001, said that he is profoundly grateful for the opportunity to carry the company’s mission forward.

"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. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and 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 added.

Tim Cook associated with Apple in 1998 and became its CEO in 2011. He has spearheaded the introduction of various products and services, including new categories like AirPods, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, and services ranging from Apple Pay and iCloud to Apple TV and Apple Music. He also played a key part in expanding existing product lines.

With Cook at the helm, Apple's market capitalisation grew from approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion.