Tim Cook Hands Apple CEO Role to John Ternus

Tim Cook stepped down as Apple's chief executive on Monday, marking the end of a 15-year tenure that began when he succeeded Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in August 2011. John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, officially takes over as CEO on September 1, 2026.

Apple first announced the succession plan in April 2026, giving the company months to prepare for the transition. Cook is not leaving Apple entirely — he moves into the role of executive chairman of the company's board of directors, where he will continue to represent Apple in engagements with policymakers around the world.

In a farewell memo to Apple employees, Cook wrote that it had been "the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple." He praised Ternus, who has spent 25 years at the company since joining its product design team in 2001, saying his successor has "the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor."

Ternus, who was named senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021, expressed confidence in Apple's future, pointing to what he called "the most talented people on earth" working across the company. His appointment comes as Apple faces intensified competition in artificial intelligence from rivals investing heavily in the technology.

Cook's tenure as CEO included Apple becoming the first U.S. company to reach a $3 trillion market valuation, the expansion of the iPhone into new markets, and the launch of product lines including the Apple Watch and AirPods.