The rumours it is true. Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO, while hardware engineering chief John Ternus will lead the iPhone and MacBook maker.
Change of management, announced It will take effect late Monday, September 1. “The transition, approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process,” Apple said.
On Ternus taking the helm, Cook, 65, said Apple’s next CEO “has the mind of an engineer, the spirit of innovation and the heart to lead with integrity and honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are immeasurable, and he is undoubtedly the right person to lead Apple.”
Ternus did not say how he might act as CEO. For now, he said, “I pledge to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
Ternus joined the company in 2001 on the product design team before becoming VP of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and SVP in 2021.
John Ternus and Tim Cook (Credit: Apple)
To take over Ternus’ responsibilities on the hardware side, Apple announced that Johny Srouji, best known for his iPhone and MacBook chip architecture work, will be chief hardware officer.
There has been a lot of speculation about who could replace Cook. The selection of Ternus may suggest the company’s preference for software amid the tech industry’s battle with artificial intelligence. Apple noted that Ternus “has been instrumental in introducing many new product lines, including iPad and AirPods, as well as multiple generations of iPhone, Mac and other products. Apple Watch.”
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In the meantime, Cook will remain as Apple’s executive chairman. Current chairman Arthur Levinson will become an independent director in September. “As executive chairman, Cook will assist in certain aspects of the company, including liaising with policymakers around the world,” the company added.
Cook has been leading Apple for nearly 15 years. He was In August 2011, he was appointed the general director after company co-founder Steve Jobs resigned as he battled cancer; Jobs is dead week later. Cook sought to follow the roadmap that Jobs oversaw before his death as he led Apple’s global growth and expansion into new product categories, including smartwatches. VR headsets.
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Michael Kahn
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Experience
I have been a journalist for more than 15 years. I started as a school and city reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, covering satellite internet services, cybersecurity, computer hardware, and more. I currently live in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing more than 600 stories on availability and feature launches, as well as regulatory battles over expanding satellite constellations, battles with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and efforts to expand into mobile satellite-based service. I scoured FCC filings for the latest news and traveled to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cell service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. in 2024 and 2025 The FTC forced Avast to pay $16.5 million for secretly collecting consumers’ personal information and selling it to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint disclosure investigation with the motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Disadvantages during the pandemic he took me to the camp In front of Best Buy to get the RTX 3000. Now I’m watching how AI-based memory shortages affect the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please leave feedback in the comments and send me tips.
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