Apple Names Ternus CEO as Cook Becomes Executive Chairman

Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple’s CEO after 15 years, passing the role to hardware chief John Ternus on September 1 while Cook becomes executive chairman to guide policy and global engagement. Ternus, who has overseen engineering for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro, will become Apple’s second CEO since Steve Jobs and will lead as Apple shifts further into the AI era. Apple is entering the transition as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, with major events including a September 9 product showcase that is expected to reveal a foldable iPhone, and the company remains a global powerhouse valued at several trillion dollars. In addition to Cook’s departure, longtime executive Phil Schiller is reportedly stepping back from leading the App Store and Apple events, likely moving toward an Apple Fellow role. Cook’s final memo to staff extolled Apple’s culture and the team’s extraordinary contributions, while voicing confidence in Ternus’ leadership and highlighting the ongoing responsibility of engaging with governments worldwide. The leadership change caps a tenure that expanded Apple’s services and hardware ecosystem, with Cook’s strategy emphasizing supply chain excellence, user experience, and the integration of hardware, software and services, as Apple navigates regulatory and competitive pressures in the AI and global markets.