Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO, Transitions to Executive Chairman

Summary

• Apple has announced a major leadership transition: Tim Cook will step down as CEO and become Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2026

• John Ternus, currently the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, has been unanimously selected by the Board to become Apple’s next CEO

• Arthur Levinson will transition from his 15-year role as non-executive chairman to lead independent director, and Ternus will also join the board of directors

Apple announced today a monumental shift in its executive leadership. Following a thoughtful and long-term succession planning process, Tim Cook will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors. Stepping into the role of Chief Executive Officer will be John Ternus, currently serving as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. The transition, unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, will officially take effect on September 1, 2026.

Cook, who became CEO in 2011, has led Apple through an era of unprecedented growth and innovation. Under his leadership, Apple’s market capitalization surged from approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion USD, and its active installed base expanded to over 2.5 billion devices. Cook oversaw the introduction of groundbreaking new categories, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, while also building Apple Services into a massive $100 billion USD business. As Executive Chairman, Cook will continue to guide the company’s broader strategic vision, including engaging with global policymakers.

“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,” Cook stated in the press release. He expressed immense confidence in his successor, adding, “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor… I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character.”

Ternus is no stranger to shaping Apple’s future. Having joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and the executive team in 2021, he has overseen hardware engineering across every major category. Ternus was instrumental in the introduction of multiple new product lines, including the iPad and AirPods, and he has driven significant advancements across the Mac and iPhone lineups—most recently overseeing the introduction of the MacBook Neo and the dramatically thin iPhone Air.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. “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. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come.”

The leadership change also brings shifts to Apple’s board structure. 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. As Cook works closely with Ternus through the summer to ensure a smooth transition, Apple prepares to embark on its next major chapter under the guidance of one of its most accomplished hardware visionaries.