Apple Inc. announced on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, that Tim Cook will conclude his tenure as Chief Executive Officer effective September 1, 2026. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed John Ternus, the current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, to succeed Cook as CEO. Following the transition, Cook will assume the role of Executive Chairman, where he is expected to continue providing strategic oversight and advisory support to the leadership team.
Cook, 65, has served as Apple’s CEO since August 2011, when he took over from co-founder Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple’s annual revenue increased from $108 billion in fiscal 2011 to $383 billion in fiscal 2023. During this period, the company’s market capitalization grew from approximately $350 billion to over $3 trillion. Cook oversaw the diversification of Apple’s product portfolio with the introduction of the Apple Watch, AirPods, and the Vision Pro spatial computer. He also presided over the significant expansion of the Services division, which includes the App Store, Apple Pay, and iCloud, turning it into a primary driver of the company’s high-margin revenue.
John Ternus, 51, has been a prominent figure within Apple’s executive ranks since joining the company’s product design team in 2001. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021, reporting directly to Cook. In that capacity, Ternus has managed the engineering teams responsible for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods. He was a central figure in the company’s transition from Intel processors to Apple Silicon, a multi-year project that redesigned the internal architecture of the Mac lineup. The Board of Directors noted that Ternus was selected following a comprehensive, multi-year succession planning process.
In an official statement, Arthur Levinson, Chairman of Apple’s Board, described the transition as a planned evolution of the company’s leadership. Levinson stated that the board has full confidence in Ternus’s ability to maintain the company’s focus on innovation and operational excellence. Cook also issued a statement regarding his successor, noting that Ternus has been a vital part of the leadership team for over two decades and possesses a deep understanding of Apple’s culture and technical vision.
The company did not immediately name a successor for Ternus’s current role as head of Hardware Engineering, stating that further organizational updates would be announced prior to the September 1 transition date. This leadership change marks the first time Apple has appointed a new CEO in fifteen years, signaling a shift to a new generation of executive management while maintaining continuity through Cook’s ongoing role as Executive Chairman.