Apple has officially announced a leadership change: Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO and moving to the role of executive chairman. John Turnus will become the company’s new CEO, effective September 1, 2026.
Apple has officially announced a leadership change: Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO and moving to the role of executive chairman. John Turnus will become the company’s new CEO, effective September 1, 2026.
The decision was unanimously supported by the company’s board of directors. Apple said the leadership change was the result of a lengthy succession planning process.
Cook will remain CEO until September and work with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition. After that, he will focus on working with the board, strategic matters and government engagement.
Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998 and took over as CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs' death. In his 15 years at the helm, the company grew significantly, with its market capitalization increasing from about $350 billion to $4 trillion.
It was under Cook that Apple launched a number of new products and services, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, as well as Apple Pay, Apple Music, and iCloud.
In a statement, Cook called leading Apple «the greatest honor of my life» and praised his successor, saying that Ternus has «the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart of a leader.» «It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as CEO of Apple and to be trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all my heart and am grateful to have the opportunity to work with a team of such resourceful, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who are unwaveringly committed to improving the lives of our customers and building the best products and services in the world. John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are too great to list, and he is undoubtedly the right person to lead Apple into the future. «I couldn’t be more confident in his abilities and character, and I look forward to working closely with him during this transition and in my new role as Executive Chairman,» said Tim Cook.
John Turnus has been with Apple since 2001. In 2013, he became vice president of hardware engineering, and since 2021, he has been a member of the executive team as senior vice president.
Considered one of Apple’s key product development leaders, Ternus has been involved in the creation of multiple generations of the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
In his first statement since his appointment, Ternus said he was honored to lead Apple and continue the company’s mission. «I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to continue Apple’s mission. I have spent most of my career at Apple, and I was fortunate to work under Steve Jobs and Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been an honor to help shape the products and experiences that have so profoundly changed the way we interact with the world and with each other. I am optimistic about what we can achieve in the coming years, and I am thrilled to know that the most talented people on earth work here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any of us. I am honored to take on this role, and I promise to be guided by the values and vision that have defined this special place for half a century,» said John Ternus.
The company also announced senior management changes. Arthur Levinson, who has been Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become lead independent director, and Johnny Srouji, previously Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technology, has been named chief hardware officer.
For Apple, this is one of the most important changes in the last 15 years — and the beginning of a new era after Tim Cook’s long period of leadership.
