Apple names next CEO as Tim Cook prepares to step down after 15 years

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Apple announced that Tim Cook will be leaving his position as CEO later this year. John Ternus, a long-time Apple executive, will be taking over as CEO.

On September 1, 2026, Apple will have a new CEO. Tim Cook, who is currently CEO, will become executive chairman. The board of directors unanimously agreed on this change and appointed John Ternus as the new chief executive officer.

Cook will continue in his position until the summer, collaborating with Ternus to make the changeover as seamless as possible.

Tim Cook, who has been Apple’s CEO since 2011, said leading the company was the biggest honor of his life. He will remain involved with Apple as executive chairman, focusing on work with leaders around the world.

Tim Cook said it was a tremendous honor to have led Apple as CEO and that he deeply appreciated the trust placed in him. He described John Ternus as a brilliant engineer and a true innovator with strong moral character and leadership qualities.

Ternus, a long-time Apple employee, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledged Tim Cook and Steve Jobs as key mentors in his career.

Ternus shared that after a long career at Apple, he was fortunate to have learned from both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, who mentored him.

Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO, with John Ternus set to take over in September 2026

— TopMob (@TopMob) April 20, 2026

Apple outlines long-term succession plan

The company announced this change as part of a previously planned leadership transition. Arthur Levinson, the current chairman, will now serve as lead independent director, and Ternus will be joining the company’s board.

Levinson praised Cook’s leadership for making Apple one of the most valuable companies globally, and stated that Ternus is the ideal person to lead the company forward.

Tim Cook began working at Apple in 1998 and became CEO, guiding the company through a period of significant expansion. During his time as leader, Apple’s value grew from approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion, and yearly sales increased dramatically, from $108 billion in 2011 to over $416 billion in 2025.

He spearheaded the launch of innovative products like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, and significantly grew Apple’s services, including iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV, and Apple Music.

Greg Joswiak has worked at Apple since 2001 and is now the senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. He’s been crucial in creating many popular Apple products like the iPhone, Mac, and iPad, and became part of the company’s leadership team in 2021.

This leadership change is one of the most significant at Apple in over ten years, since Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs.

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2026-04-20 23:49