Tim Cook Stepping Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus Takes Over in September

After 15 years running one of the most valuable companies on Earth, Tim Cook is handing over the reins. Apple confirmed on April 20 that Cook will step down as CEO effective September 1, 2026, with John Ternus, the company's current senior vice president of hardware engineering, stepping into the top job.

The move was approved unanimously by Apple's board of directors. Cook won't disappear entirely though. He takes on the role of executive chairman from September 1, where he'll focus on things like engaging with policymakers globally. Arthur Levinson, Apple's long-standing non-executive chairman, shifts to lead independent director on the same date.

Cook first joined Apple back in 1998, brought on by Steve Jobs himself as senior vice president of worldwide operations. He became CEO on August 24, 2011, after Jobs stepped down due to serious health concerns. The years that followed saw Apple grow into a genuinely different beast. Products like Apple Watch, Apple Pay, and a relentless push into services all took shape under his watch.

His tenure hasn't been without controversy, mind you. His dealings with the Trump administration drew scrutiny from multiple corners, and the company's slow progress on AI features frustrated plenty of users and investors alike. Still, the numbers don't lie. Apple grew into the world's most valuable company under Cook's leadership, a fact that's hard to argue with regardless of the criticism.

Who Is John Ternus?

Ternus, 50, isn't exactly a household name outside of Apple circles. Before joining Apple in 2001, he briefly worked at a small firm called Virtual Research Systems designing virtual reality headsets. Apple brought him in to work on the Apple Cinema Display, and he quietly climbed the ranks over two decades.

By 2013 he was vice president of hardware engineering. Then in 2021, when his predecessor Dan Riccio moved over to oversee what became the Vision Pro, Ternus was promoted to senior vice president, making him the youngest member of Apple's executive team at the time. Apple also gave him oversight of the Apple Watch lineup a year later.

In Apple's announcement, Cook said of Ternus: "John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future."

Ternus responded in kind, noting that having spent nearly his entire career at Apple, working under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook had been a privilege. Apple's SEC filing confirms the board made the appointment on April 17, three days before the public announcement.

Johny Srouji, previously senior vice president of hardware technologies, steps into an expanded chief hardware officer role, taking over Ternus's engineering responsibilities.

Cook's Last Big Moment on Stage

Before he exits, Cook has at least one major event left as CEO. WWDC 2026 runs from June 8 to 12 at Apple Park in Cupertino, with the keynote kicking off on June 8 at 1:00 PM Eastern. It'll be broadcast live on the Apple TV app, the Apple Developer app, and YouTube.

The keynote is expected to cover the next generation of Apple's software lineup. iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 are all on the cards. There's also chatter around a revamped Siri built on Google's Gemini AI and further refinements to the Liquid Glass design language Apple debuted at last year's WWDC. No new iPhones will be announced, that's a given, but hardware rumours point to a possible Mac Studio refresh with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.

Whether Cook headlines the keynote solo or shares the stage with Ternus for a visible handover moment is genuinely unclear at this point. Given the circumstances, it'd be a strange oversight not to acknowledge the transition at all.

What Comes Next

Ternus steps into the role at a fascinating moment. Apple's product pipeline is reportedly packed. The iPhone Fold continues to circulate as one of the company's most anticipated rumoured releases, and the broader smart home push, including a possible HomePad and refreshed HomePod lineup, looks set to take shape over the next product cycle.

For a hardware engineer taking the CEO seat right before Apple's autumn product season, Ternus will have almost no time to settle in before the big announcements start landing. That's either a great sign or a baptism of fire, depending on how you look at it.