Apple Names John Ternus CEO as Tim Cook Moves to Executive Chairman

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple announced on Monday that John Ternus, its senior vice president of hardware engineering, will become chief executive officer on Sept. 1, 2026, with Tim Cook moving into the role of executive chairman of the company’s board.

The board approved the transition unanimously, Apple said, describing it as the result of a long-term succession planning process. Cook will remain CEO through the summer and work closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover.

Cook’s New Role

As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company’s operations, including engaging with policymakers around the world, according to Apple. He has led the company since 2011, when he succeeded co-founder Steve Jobs, and oversaw a period in which Apple became one of the world’s most valuable companies and expanded significantly into services and wearable devices.

In a statement, Cook said leading Apple had been the greatest privilege of his life. He described Ternus as having “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” and said he was confident Ternus was the right person to lead the company.

Who Is John Ternus

Ternus has spent about 25 years at Apple, nearly his entire career, and has overseen hardware engineering for products across the company’s lineup. In his statement, he said he had been fortunate to work under Steve Jobs and to have Cook as a mentor, and pledged to lead with the values and vision that have defined the company for half a century.

His elevation places an engineer with deep product experience at the helm at a time when Apple faces pressure to show progress in artificial intelligence and to identify its next major product categories beyond the iPhone.

Board Changes

Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become lead independent director, the company said. Ternus will also join the board of directors.

Challenges Ahead

The new chief executive will inherit a company navigating intense competition in AI, regulatory scrutiny of its App Store practices in the United States and Europe, and supply chain questions tied to trade policy. Investors have also watched closely for signs of how Apple plans to integrate generative AI more deeply into its devices and software.

The announcement ends months of speculation about Apple’s leadership succession. Ternus had been widely seen as a leading internal candidate, having appeared frequently at the company’s product launch events in recent years.

Apple has historically favored internal succession and continuity in its leadership ranks. The planned overlap between Cook and Ternus through the summer gives the incoming CEO several months to prepare before formally taking over ahead of the company’s typical fall product cycle.