Apple has officially confirmed a major reshuffle in its top management: starting September 1, 2026, the company will be headed by John Ternus, currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Tim Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, will become Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. This decision was made unanimously by the board and marks the culmination of a years-long succession planning process.
In the coming months, Cook will continue to serve as CEO to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. After the handover, he will focus on strategic issues and engagement with government bodies worldwide. Ternus, who has been with Apple since 2001, will join the company’s board of directors for the first time.
Tim Cook’s career and impact
During his tenure, Cook turned Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world: its market capitalization grew from $350 billion to $4 trillion, and annual revenue nearly quadrupled—from $108 billion to $416 billion. Under his leadership, new product categories emerged, including Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro, as well as services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV and Apple Music. Cook initiated the transition to proprietary processors and focused on developing the services division, which became a business with more than $100 billion in turnover.
During his tenure, Apple expanded its presence to over 200 countries, opened more than 500 stores, and increased its workforce by 100,000 employees. Cook paid special attention to issues of environmental responsibility, privacy, and accessibility, achieving a 60% reduction in the company’s carbon footprint compared to 2015. He also championed inclusivity and user safety.
John Ternus: Apple’s New Leader
John Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and since then has been responsible for the development of the company’s key devices. Under his leadership, new generations of iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods have been released. Ternus played a key role in launching the MacBook Neo and updating the iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air. His team spearheaded innovations in materials, reliability, and sustainability, including the use of recycled aluminum and 3D-printed titanium for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Ternus also worked on improving device repairability and introducing new technologies to reduce the carbon footprint. Before joining Apple, he worked as an engineer at Virtual Research Systems and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Changes to the Board of Directors
Starting September 1, 2026, Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s independent chairman of the board for the past 15 years, will become the lead independent director. Ternus will join the board of directors simultaneously with his CEO appointment. The board expressed gratitude to Cook for his contributions to the company’s development and voiced confidence in the new leader.
В пресс-релизе Apple отмечается, что объявленные планы могут быть скорректированы в зависимости от рыночных и корпоративных факторов. Компания напомнила о возможных рисках и неопределенностях, связанных с будущими изменениями, и рекомендовала инвесторам следить за официальными отчетами Apple в SEC.
