Apple names hardware chief Ternus to replace Cook as CEO

Apple confirmed John Ternus ( pictured, left ), currently SVP of hardware engineering, will succeed Tim Cook ( pictured, right ) as CEO on 1 September 2026 with the latter to transition to executive chairman. The much anticipated move comes after Ternus was rumoured to be Cook’s successor  dating back to last year. Cook, who has led the iPhone maker since 2011, will focus on policy engagement and board-level responsibilities in his new role. “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” Cook stated. Cook oversaw a period of dramatic expansion at Apple, with market capitalisation growing from roughly $350 billion to $4 trillion and annual revenue rising from $108 billion to more than $416 billion. The company’s services business alone now exceeds $100 billion annually. While Cook’s time at the helm was largely successful, the company fell behind rivals such as Google and Samsung in implementing AI across its iPhones and other devices. Apple struggled to develop in-house  AI expertise , which ultimately led it to seek partnerships with players such as Google and OpenAI. The current CEO noted “Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour”. During Cook’s tenure, Apple grew by more than 100,000 team members and increased its active installed base to more than 2.5 billion devices. Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran, joined the company’s product design team in 2001 and has been a member of the executive team since 2021. He has overseen hardware engineering across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods devices, and was involved in Apple’s transition to its own silicon. His recent product record includes the iPhone 17 lineup , which featured the ultra-thin iPhone Air, as well as advances in AirPods health features and the introduction of MacBook Neo. “I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as