Apple has announced that John Ternus, the company's head of hardware engineering, will succeed Tim Cook as chief executive on 1 September, ending Cook's 15-year tenure at the top of the world's most valuable technology company.

Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, will transition to the role of executive chairman following the handover. The announcement was reported by BBC World News.

In a statement, Cook described the chief executive role as

the greatest privilege of my life
and gave a clear endorsement of his successor:
He is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.

Ternus, who joined Apple 25 years ago and worked under Steve Jobs, responded to the news with measured confidence.

I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come,
he said on Monday.

Who is John Ternus?

Ternus has spent his entire career at Apple, rising through the hardware engineering division to become its chief. During his tenure he worked on every generation of the iPad and many generations of the iPhone, oversaw the launches of AirPods and the Apple Watch, and led the landmark transition of Mac computers from Intel processors to Apple's own silicon chips.

Cook's legacy

Under Cook's stewardship, Apple's yearly profit grew more than four-fold. His tenure is widely regarded as a masterclass in operational discipline and supply-chain management.

Timothy Hubbard, a professor at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, described Cook as

the best at refining, scaling and defending an extraordinarily powerful system,
but noted the challenge that lies ahead.
The real question now is whether that same organisation can pivot toward exploration, where success depends on speed, uncertainty and a greater willingness to experiment,
Hubbard said.

Reaction from the wider technology industry was swift. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, posted on X:

Tim Cook is a legend. I am very thankful for everything he has done and I am very thankful for Apple.

What happens next

Ternus officially assumes the chief executive role on 1 September. Cook will remain closely involved with the company in his capacity as executive chairman, providing continuity during the transition. Apple has not yet announced any changes to its senior leadership structure below the chief executive level.