CUPERTINO, United States — Apple Inc. announced on Monday, April 20, 2026, that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive and assume the role of executive chairman, with John Ternus set to become the company’s next chief executive officer effective September 1, 2026.
The transition, approved unanimously by the company’s board of directors, follows what Apple described as a long-term succession planning process.
Cook will remain chief executive through the summer, working with Ternus to oversee the leadership handover.
As executive chairman, Cook will continue to support the company, including engaging with policymakers globally.
“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,” Cook said.
“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour.”
Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, said he was “profoundly grateful” for the appointment.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Board Changes Accompany Transition
Arthur Levinson, who has served as non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become lead independent director when the transition takes effect.
Ternus will also join Apple’s board of directors on the same date.
“Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company,” Levinson said.
“We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim.”
Cook expressed appreciation for Levinson’s tenure, saying he valued his “unwavering dedication to the company” and looked forward to continuing their work together.
Leadership Legacy and Company Growth
Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became chief executive in 2011.
During his tenure, the company introduced products including Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro, while expanding services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV and Apple Music.
Apple said its market value grew from about $350 billion in 2011 to $4 trillion, with annual revenue increasing from $108 billion to more than $416 billion by fiscal year 2025.
The company also expanded its presence to more than 200 countries and territories and now operates over 500 retail stores worldwide.
The company’s services division has grown into a business exceeding $100 billion, while its installed base has reached more than 2.5 billion devices, Apple said.
Ternus’s Role in Product Development
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and has led hardware engineering across multiple product lines. He became a vice president in 2013 and joined the executive team in 2021.
Apple said he has overseen engineering work on products across categories including iPhone, Mac, iPad, AirPods and Apple Watch.
His contributions include work on newer product lines such as MacBook Neo and the iPhone 17 series, as well as advancements in materials, durability and energy efficiency.
Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems and holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
The leadership change is set to take effect at the start of September, with both executives expected to collaborate closely during the transition period.
