John Ternus Is Apple's Next CEO
Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. The transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process. Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition. As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.
What a perfect time to roll out the red carpet. Apple is riding high on the popularity of the iPhone 17 lineup, with blockbuster holiday season earnings in the quarter just gone. Beyond the financials, the business is in a state of calm. There are no major ongoing controversies, no fires to put out, the tariff shocks have subsided, and a bunch of other top executives have made their graceful departures in the last year or so. That should mean the leadership page stays relatively stable for the foreseeable future. The metaphorical stage has truly been cleared for this to go as smoothly as just about anyone could hope for.
In fact, Ternus is set up for a string of early successes when he officially takes over come September. Long-running projects like the revamped Siri, the folding iPhone and the smart home hub will debut publicly within weeks of his formal stewardship. The smart glasses stuff should follow soon after.
This has obviously been in motion for a long time. Cook actually publicly addressed his looming retirement as early as 2021, telling Kara Swisher on the record that he “probably” wouldn’t be running Apple by the end of the decade. But the exact details of the timing is almost freaky. Cook was 50 years old when he got handed the role of Apple CEO, and is retiring almost exactly fifteen years later at 65. The incoming Ternus is aged 50.