Tim Cook will step down as Apple's chief executive on September 1, ending a nearly 15-year tenure that transformed the Cupertino, California company into the world's most valuable business. John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, will assume the CEO role on the same date. Cook, 65, will remain at the company as executive chairman, according to Al Jazeera English.
A Record-Breaking Run
Cook took the helm in 2011, succeeding Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, having first joined the company in 1998. Over his tenure, Apple's market capitalisation grew from approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion, while annual revenue more than tripled — rising from $108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal year 2025. Cook also oversaw the launch of several landmark product lines, including Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro.
In a statement announcing the transition, Cook reflected on his time leading the iPhone maker.
"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." — Tim Cook, Apple CEO
Ternus Brings Deep Hardware Expertise
Ternus has spent 25 years at Apple and was appointed senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021. He played an instrumental role in the development of the iPad and AirPods, making him a well-established figure in the company's product leadership. Cook offered an emphatic endorsement of his successor.
"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 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." — Tim Cook, Apple CEO
Cook's Role as Executive Chairman
In his new capacity as executive chairman, Cook is expected to engage with policymakers around the world, lending his considerable profile to Apple's government relations and strategic interests without holding day-to-day operational responsibility.
A Wider Wave of CEO Transitions
Cook's departure is the latest in a series of high-profile leadership changes at major technology and media companies, following transitions at firms such as Amazon and Netflix in recent years. The handover on September 1 will mark one of the most closely watched successions in corporate history, as Ternus inherits both an extraordinary legacy and the pressure of steering Apple through an increasingly competitive global technology landscape.
