Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO

  • Publish date: Tuesday، 21 April 2026 Reading time: two min read

John Terneus named successor as Cook transitions to Executive Chairman following historic 13-year tenure and $4T market cap milestone.

Apple announced today that Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will step down from his role effective September 1, to be succeeded by John Ternus. In a statement, the tech giant confirmed that Cook will transition into the position of Executive Chairman, continuing his involvement with the company he has led since 2011.

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Cook, who originally joined Apple in 1998, presided over a period of unprecedented expansion during his 15-year tenure as CEO. Under his leadership, the company's market capitalization surged from approximately 350billionto4 trillion. His era was defined by the introduction of major new product categories, including the Apple Watch and AirPods, alongside pivotal services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, and Apple TV+.

In his farewell statement, Cook reflected on his time leading the organization, describing it as "the greatest privilege of my life." He expressed deep gratitude for the team's dedication to enriching customer lives and creating world-class products. As the company celebrates its 50th anniversary, which occurred on April 1, Cook emphasized the need for Apple to reinvent itself for the next chapter of its history.

John Ternus, currently Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will take the helm as CEO. Ternus has spent nearly his entire career at Apple, overseeing the development of iPads, AirPods, and multiple generations of Mac, Apple Watch, and iPhone devices. Before joining Apple, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Cook praised Ternus as a "visionary" possessing "the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour." He expressed full confidence in Ternus's ability to guide the company through the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Ternus acknowledged the weight of the responsibility, noting his fortune in having worked under co-founder Steve Jobs and served as a mentee to Cook. "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," Ternus said.

The transition marks a significant moment for the technology sector as Apple navigates the AI boom with new leadership at the top.

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