John Ternus Becomes Apple CEO as Tim Cook Steps Into New Chairman Role
The leadership change took effect September 1, just over a week before Apple’s annual iPhone launch event under its new chief executive.
John Ternus has officially become Apple’s chief executive officer, taking over from Tim Cook, who led the company for 15 years. The transition took effect on September 1, 2026, with Cook moving into the newly created role of executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors.
The change comes at a pivotal moment for Apple, just over a week before the company’s annual iPhone launch event, scheduled for September 9.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Apple confirmed the leadership transition, which the company said followed a long-term succession planning process approved unanimously by its board of directors. Ternus, who previously served as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, becomes CEO effective September 1 and has also joined Apple’s board of directors.
Arthur Levinson, who had served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for 15 years, moved into the role of lead independent director, also effective September 1. Cook, in his new role as executive chairman, is expected to continue supporting the company in select capacities, including engagement with policymakers around the world.
During Cook’s 15-year tenure as CEO, Apple’s market value grew to roughly $4.6 trillion, driven in large part by the continued success of the iPhone. Cook succeeded Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011.
WHAT OFFICIALS / SOURCES ARE SAYING
In a statement, Levinson praised Cook’s leadership, saying his integrity and values had shaped everything Apple does and that his tenure had transformed the company into what Levinson called the world’s best company.
Cook, in a message to Apple staff on his final day as CEO, said he took enormous comfort in handing leadership to Ternus, whom he described as brilliant, wonderful and capable.
In his first internal memo as CEO, Ternus referenced a “huge launch next week,” pointing to Apple’s upcoming September 9 event, according to reporting from TechCrunch.
KEY FACTS
- New CEO: John Ternus, formerly senior vice president of Hardware Engineering
- Outgoing CEO: Tim Cook, who now becomes executive chairman
- Effective date: September 1, 2026
- Board changes: Ternus joins the board; Arthur Levinson becomes lead independent director
- Cook’s tenure: 15 years as CEO, succeeding Steve Jobs in 2011
- Upcoming event: Apple’s annual iPhone launch, scheduled for September 9, 2026
- Company value during Cook’s tenure: Grew to approximately $4.6 trillion
WHY THIS MATTERS
The leadership change marks the end of one of the most consequential tenures in modern corporate history, during which Apple became one of the world’s most valuable companies. Ternus takes over at a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping the technology industry, and Apple faces pressure to demonstrate progress on its own AI offerings, including an updated version of its Siri voice assistant. His background in hardware engineering, rather than operations, is expected to shape a more product-focused direction for the company going forward.
BACKGROUND
Reports of Cook’s eventual departure had circulated for months before the announcement, with Ternus widely seen as the most likely successor given his prominent role in Apple’s hardware engineering division and his relatively high profile within the company, even though he remained largely unknown to the general public. Cook had led Apple since 2011, a period during which the company’s market capitalization expanded dramatically, largely on the strength of iPhone sales.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Ternus’s first major public appearance as CEO will come at Apple’s September 9 event, where the company is expected to unveil its newest iPhone lineup. Some reports suggest the event could include the debut of Apple’s first foldable iPhone, along with a broader rollout of an updated Siri assistant. Cook is expected to continue playing a supporting role in the company’s relationships with policymakers as executive chairman.
LATEST UPDATE
Ternus has now formally assumed the CEO title, and Apple’s leadership page has been updated to reflect the change, with Cook listed among the board of directors in his new chairman role. Attention now turns to the September 9 event as Ternus’s first major test as chief executive.
