CUPERTINO, California, United States —Apple has announced a major leadership transition that will see Tim Cook step into the role of executive chairman, while John Ternus takes over as chief executive officer from September 1, 2026.
The decision, unanimously approved by Apple’s board of directors, follows what the company described as a long-term succession planning process aimed at ensuring continuity in leadership.
Cook will remain CEO through the summer, working closely with Ternus to oversee a smooth transition before assuming his new role, where he will continue to engage with global policymakers and support key company initiatives.
“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,” Cook said. “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 praised his successor, describing Ternus as uniquely suited to lead the company into its next phase.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Cook said. “He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
Ternus, who currently serves as Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, acknowledged the responsibility of taking over leadership of one of the world’s most influential technology companies.
“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 my mentor.”
He added, “I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Arthur Levinson will transition from non-executive chairman to lead independent director, while Ternus will join Apple’s board effective the same date.
Levinson credited Cook’s leadership with transforming Apple into a global powerhouse.
“Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company,” Levinson said. “We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.”
Cook also paid tribute to Levinson’s tenure.
“I want to thank Art for the incredible work he has done leading the board of directors for the past 15 years,” Cook said, adding that he looks forward to working with him in his new role.
Okay News reports that Cook’s tenure as CEO, which began in 2011, has been marked by significant expansion and innovation. Under his leadership, Apple introduced products such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, while expanding services including Apple Pay and Apple Music.
During this period, Apple’s market value surged from around $350 billion to approximately $4 trillion, while annual revenue nearly quadrupled. The company also expanded its global footprint to more than 200 countries and territories, with over 500 retail stores and an active installed base exceeding 2.5 billion devices.
