United States – Apple Inc. has announced a leadership transition that will see Tim Cook become Executive Chairman of the company’s board of directors, while John Ternus will take over as Chief Executive Officer effective September 1, 2026.
The move, approved unanimously by Apple’s board of directors, follows what the company described as a long-term succession planning process. Cook will continue to serve as CEO through the summer while working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition.
In his new role as executive chairman, Cook will support certain company initiatives, including engaging with policymakers globally.
“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. 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,” said Cook.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. 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. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman,” he added.
Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, joined the company’s product design team in 2001. Over the years, he has overseen hardware engineering for multiple product categories, including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. He became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and joined Apple’s executive team in 2021.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus. “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.”
He added, “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. I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
As part of the leadership changes, Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s Non-Executive Chairman for the past 15 years, will transition to the role of lead independent director starting September 1, 2026. Ternus will also join the company’s board of directors on the same date.
“Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does,” said Levinson. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.”
Cook also acknowledged Levinson’s contributions to the company’s board.
“I want to thank Art for the incredible work he has done leading the board of directors for the past 15 years,” said Cook. “I have always found his advice to be invaluable and I appreciate his thoughtfulness and his unwavering dedication to the company. I am grateful he will serve as our lead independent director, and I look forward to working with him in my new role.”
Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. During his tenure, Apple expanded its global presence to more than 200 countries and territories, introduced new product categories such as Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, and grew its market capitalisation from about $350 billion in 2011 to roughly $4 trillion.
