Cook is no longer the CEO of Apple. In fact, he has resigned from his position after running the company for the past 15 years, thus signalling a significant leadership shift at Apple.
John Ternus has succeeded Tim Cook as Apple’s CEO as of September 1, 2026. Cook has been Apple’s CEO since August 2011, after replacing Steve Jobs.
A day before the change, Cook posted on X, saying, “My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will.”
Tim Cook Will Remain at Apple
Despite stepping down from being Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook is not quitting the company. Instead, he will take up the position of executive chairman.
As executive chairman, Cook will still be responsible for some aspects of Apple’s operations, which include dealing with government officials worldwide.
According to an internal email sent by Cook to Apple employees, Cook considers it to have been “the privilege of a lifetime” to be the CEO of Apple. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to the Apple employees and complimented his replacement, John Ternus.
Cook feels confident that Ternus will make a competent leader of Apple.
Tim Cook’s 15 Years as Apple CEO
Cook took over as CEO of Apple in August 2011, just days before Jobs succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
Some of the products that were added to the Apple range in Cook’s 15 years at the helm include the Apple Watch and the AirPods, as well as additions to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac ranges.
Additionally, Cook has emphasised growth for Apple in areas other than hardware. Services like the App Store, Apple Music, and Apple Pay gained more significance for Apple during its reign as CEO.
The stock value of Apple has also grown considerably during the 15 years since Cook became CEO. The company’s market value was approximately $350 billion in August 2011, but it passed $4.5 trillion on Monday, according to the report.
Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s New CEO?
Ternus will be replacing Tim Cook as the Apple CEO since he has served in senior hardware positions in the company before.
Ternus started working at Apple’s design team in 2001 and eventually was promoted to the position of senior vice-president of hardware engineering, directly reporting to Tim Cook.
In that position, he managed engineering teams handling various products of Apple, including the iPhone.
Additionally, Ternus has been deeply involved in Apple’s transition to Apple Silicon, including the M-series chips found in Mac computers. The individual has been highly instrumental in the recent developments in hardware, including the iPhone Air.
The leadership succession is particularly critical due to his knowledge of Apple’s hardware business.
John Ternus Takes Charge Ahead of Apple’s September 9 Event
John Ternus becomes Apple CEO just days before the company’s upcoming event on September 9.
This would mark his debut as CEO of Apple during a time when the company is set to launch the new iPhone 18 Pro series and its very own foldable iPhone, according to reports.
Thus, the event will be quite significant for him at the outset of his journey as the new CEO of Apple.
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