Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to Take Over
Original: Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO, John Ternus taking over
Why This Matters
Major leadership transition at world's most valuable tech company signals new era
Apple announced Monday that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, ending his 15-year tenure since 2011. Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will succeed him, while Cook becomes executive chairman.
Cook took over as Apple CEO in 2011 following Steve Jobs' death from pancreatic cancer. Under his leadership, Apple grew from uncertainty to a $4 trillion business with annual revenue quadrupling during his tenure. Cook originally joined Apple in 1998 to fix the company's troubled supply chain, transforming manufacturing operations into a competitive advantage. Ternus will join Apple's board of directors alongside his CEO role, while current non-executive chairman Arthur Levinson becomes lead independent director. Cook stated it was 'the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple' and praised his team's dedication to customers.