Tim Cook will step down as the Chief Executive Officer of Apple in September 2026, ending his 15-year leadership of one of the world’s biggest tech companies.
Apple announced that John Ternus will take over as the new CEO on September 1, 2026. He currently serves as the company’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and has worked at Apple for more than 25 years.
Cook will not leave the company completely. He will move into a new role as Executive Chairman, where he will focus on policy matters and support the leadership transition.
Since becoming CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs, Cook helped Apple grow into a company worth more than $4 trillion. During his time in charge, Apple launched major products like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and expanded services such as Apple Music and Apple TV.
Many industry watchers see this leadership change as a major moment for Apple, especially as the company faces strong competition in artificial intelligence and mixed reactions to products like the Vision Pro headset.
In a statement, Cook described leading Apple as the greatest privilege of his life. He praised Ternus and said he believes he is the right person to lead the company into the future.
Ternus also expressed confidence about the future. He said he feels honoured to lead Apple and continue building products that shape how people connect and work.
The company’s board approved the leadership change as part of a long-term succession plan, showing that Apple wants a smooth and stable transition.
With Ternus now preparing to lead, many people will be watching to see how he handles Apple’s next chapter in innovation and global competition
