Apple has announced a leadership transition that will see Tim Cook move from chief executive officer to “executive chairman” of its board, while John Ternus is set to become the company’s next CEO effective September 1, 2026.
The company said the change follows a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process” and was approved “unanimously by the Board of Directors,” signalling a structured internal handover rather than an abrupt shift in leadership.
Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, will continue as CEO through the summer before transitioning into his new role, where he will assist with “certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.” The arrangement suggests a continued strategic presence in global corporate and regulatory engagement even after stepping down from day-to-day operations.
John Ternus
In remarks released by Apple, Cook described his tenure as the “greatest privilege of my life” and expressed confidence in his successor, noting Ternus has “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” while also calling him “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, is expected to join Apple’s board as part of the transition. He said he is “profoundly grateful” for the opportunity and described himself as “humbled to step into this role,” adding that he intends to “lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place.”
Apple’s board chair Arthur Levinson will also transition to lead independent director, reinforcing governance oversight as the company enters a new leadership era.
The succession marks a significant generational shift at Apple, moving leadership from Cook’s long tenure into a product engineering-focused executive, while maintaining continuity through an internal promotion strategy.
