Apple Names John Ternus as Next CEO After Tim Cook

Cook will remain CEO through the summer and work closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition. As executive chairman, he will continue to support the company, including working with policymakers around the world.

Tim Cook joined Apple Inc. in 1998 and became CEO in 2011. During his time, he led the launch of major products, and services, including new categories like Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, as well as services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV and Apple Music. He also helped expand Apple’s existing product lines.

Under his leadership, Apple’s market value grew from about $350 billion to $4 trillion and annual revenue rose from $108 billion in 2011 to over $416 billion in 2025. The company expanded globally to more than 200 countries, opened over 500 retail stores and grew its workforce by more than 100,000 employees, with over 2.5 billion active devices in use.

Under Tim Cook’s leadership, Apple Inc. grew it's Services business into a $100+ billion segment. He also helped build the wearables category, including Apple Watch and AirPods and led the shift to Apple-designed chips, improving performance and energy efficiency across its products.

Under Tim Cook’s leadership, Apple Inc. has strengthened its core values, cutting its carbon footprint by over 60% since 2015 while nearly doubling revenue. He has made privacy and security a top priority, promoted accessibility so products are usable by everyone, and focused on creating a workplace built on inclusion, respect and equal opportunity.

John Ternus has played a key role in making the Mac lineup more powerful and popular than ever in its 40-year history. His work includes the launch of new products like the MacBook Neo, designed to make Mac more accessible to users worldwide.

He also led the development of a refreshed iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the thin and durable iPhone Air, and the iPhone 17. Under his leadership, AirPods have also improved with advanced noise cancellation and new features that support hearing health.

John Ternus has led efforts to improve the reliability and durability of Apple Inc. products making them more resilient. He has also driven innovation in materials and design to reduce environmental impact, including using recycled aluminum, introducing 3D-printed titanium in Apple Watch models and improving repairability to extend product lifespan.

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“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. 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,” said Cook. “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 the past 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 said Cook.“

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus. “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 said Ternus."

“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,” said Levinson. “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. 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.”

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