Who is John Ternus, the Apple insider set to succeed Tim Cook?

John Ternus, a longtime Apple hardware chief who helped shape many of the company’s flagship devices, will take over as chief executive officer of iPhone maker on September 1.

Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, will succeed Tim Cook, who will become executive chairman after more than a decade at the helm.

A mechanical engineer by training, Ternus joined Apple in 2001 as part of its product design team, placing him among a generation of leaders who worked under co-founder Steve Jobs and later rose through the ranks during Cook’s tenure.

He was appointed vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and joined Apple’s executive team in 2021.

Ternus is widely credited with helping drive advances in Apple’s Mac lineup, including its transition toward more powerful and efficient systems.

"He was instrumental in the introduction of multiple new product lines, including iPad and AirPods, as well as many generations of products across iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch," Apple said in a statement.

More recently, his team oversaw the rollout of new iPhone models and a redesigned product lineup, alongside improvements in durability, materials and sustainability.

"This past fall, his team’s efforts were on full display with the introduction of a redefined iPhone lineup, including the incredibly powerful iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the radically thin and durable iPhone Air, and the iPhone 17, which has been an incredible upgrade for users," the company added.

Ternus has also led efforts to improve device longevity and reduce environmental impact, including the use of recycled materials and innovations in repairability.

"He has also driven much of Apple’s innovation in materials and hardware design that have reduced the carbon footprint of its products, including the creation of a new, recycled aluminum compound that has been introduced across multiple product lines," Apple said.

Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

In a statement, Cook described Ternus as “a visionary” with “the mind of an engineer” and said he was “without question the right person” to lead Apple into the future.

Ternus said he was “profoundly grateful” for the opportunity and pledged to continue the company’s mission of building products that shape how people interact with technology.