Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, John Ternus taking over in historic succession plan

Apple announced on Monday that Tim Cook, who has served as Apple’s CEO since 2011, will step down. Cook was the direct successor to Steve Jobs as Apple CEO, who resigned due to health issues.

Cook will remain in his role until September 1 of this year, when Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will take over as CEO. Cook will then transition to a new role as Apple Executive Chairman.

Cook isn’t leaving the company he helped scale into one of the most valuable businesses in history. He will remain closely involved in Apple’s direction, working alongside Ternus during the transition and continuing to represent the company on global policy matters, where Apple’s influence has grown in step with its size.

“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. 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 said.

“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. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman,” Cook added

Ternus steps into the CEO role as a product builder who has spent more than two decades inside Apple. He joined the product design team in 2001 and rose through the ranks to lead hardware engineering across iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. His work has shaped nearly every major device category the company sells today.

“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. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. 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.”

End of an era at Apple Inc.: Tim Cook exits CEO role, John Ternus to lead next chapter

The transition follows a long-running succession plan approved unanimously by Apple’s board. Arthur Levinson, who has served as non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become lead independent director. Ternus will join the board at the same time he becomes CEO.

“Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does,” Levinson said. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. 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’s tenure reshaped Apple in ways that go far beyond product launches. When he took over in 2011, the company was valued at roughly $350 billion. Today, it stands near $4 trillion. Annual revenue has climbed from $108 billion to more than $416 billion. Apple’s ecosystem now spans more than 2.5 billion active devices, with operations in over 200 countries and a retail presence spanning more than 500 stores.

He oversaw the introduction of new product categories like Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, alongside a services business that has grown into a $100 billion segment on its own. Under his leadership, Apple transitioned to its own silicon, tightening control over performance and efficiency across its devices. He pushed privacy to the forefront of Apple’s identity and expanded the company’s role in areas like health, accessibility, and environmental responsibility. Apple cut its carbon footprint by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels during a period of significant revenue growth.

Ternus inherits a company that looks very different from the one Cook took over. His leadership has already shaped recent product cycles, from Mac’s resurgence to the latest iPhone lineup. He has driven work on durability, materials, and manufacturing processes, including recycled aluminum designs and advances in repairability that extend product lifespans.

In recent years, his team delivered updates across Apple’s core lineup, including new Mac systems, the latest iPhone models, and ongoing improvements to AirPods, which have evolved beyond audio to include broader health-focused features. His influence reflects a steady push to refine Apple’s hardware foundation while preparing for what comes next.

This transition marks the close of one era and the start of another. Cook steps down from the CEO role after guiding Apple through a period of massive scale and global reach. Ternus steps in with deep product experience and a mandate to carry that momentum forward, with Cook still close by in a new role at the top of the company.