Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus Named Successor

After nearly 15 years at the helm of Apple, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has announced he will step down from his role later this year. The 65-year-old executive will transition into the position of executive chairman in September, handing over leadership to John Ternus, the company’s current head of hardware engineering.

Cook’s departure marks the end of a highly successful era for the tech giant. Since taking over from co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011, Cook has overseen a dramatic expansion of Apple’s business. During his tenure, annual profits surged to more than $110 billion, and the company’s market value climbed to roughly $4 trillion, cementing its place as one of the most influential corporations in the world.

Widely recognized for his operational expertise, Cook built on Apple’s global supply chain, strengthening manufacturing networks across countries such as China, India, and Brazil, while also expanding its retail presence worldwide. His leadership helped define how modern technology companies operate at scale.

His successor, Ternus, brings more than two decades of experience at Apple, having joined the company in 2001. Over the years, he has played a key role in the development of flagship products like the Mac and iPad. At 50, he will become Apple’s eighth CEO and only the third since Jobs returned to revive the company in the late 1990s.

In a statement, Ternus expressed confidence about the future, pledging to uphold Apple’s longstanding values and vision while guiding the company through its next phase.

He takes charge at a pivotal moment. Apple has faced increasing scrutiny over its innovation pipeline, with critics pointing to a lack of new mainstream product categories in recent years. The company is also under pressure to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence, an area where many competitors are investing heavily.

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Beyond technology challenges, Apple continues to navigate a complex global landscape marked by regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical tensions—particularly involving China—and shifting U.S. trade policies.

Even after stepping down as CEO, Cook is expected to remain influential in his new role, particularly in managing Apple’s relationships with governments and policymakers around the world.