Apple Names John Ternus as New CEO; Tim Cook Becomes Executive Chairman

Apple announced that John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will become CEO on September 1, 2026, replacing Tim Cook who will transition to executive chairman. The leadership change marks Apple's first CEO succession since Cook took over from Steve Jobs in 2011.

Key points

• Ternus, 50, has spent 25 years at Apple and overseen hardware engineering for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro
• Transition takes effect September 1, 2026; Cook will remain CEO through summer to ensure smooth handover
• Johny Srouji, Apple's chip chief, will assume expanded role as chief hardware officer overseeing engineering and silicon development
• Cook's tenure saw Apple's market cap increase roughly 24-fold to $4 trillion and revenue nearly quadruple to over $400 billion
• Board unanimously approved the succession as result of long-term planning process

Why it matters

This leadership transition signals Apple's strategic focus on hardware innovation under new leadership while Cook shifts to government relations and policy engagement. The change comes as Apple faces supply chain complexity, geopolitical tensions, and competition in AI chip development.