Tim Cook leaves as Apple CEO in September 2026

Apple has announced that Tim Cook, the current CEO, will step down after 15 years in the role. Cook, who has worked at Apple since 1998, became CEO on 24 August 2011 after Steve Jobs had to step back for health reasons. After stepping down, Cook will take on the role of executive chairman of the board.

John Ternus as successor

John Ternus, the current senior vice president of hardware engineering, has been appointed as Apple’s new CEO, effective 1 September 2026. Ternus’ appointment was unanimously approved by Apple’s board of directors.

Ternus has had a long career at Apple, which began in 2001 when he was involved in the development of the Apple Cinema Display. Since then, he has made major contributions to products such as the iPad, AirPods, and the recently launched iPhone 17. Cook praised Ternus for his deep commitment to Apple and his integrity.

Tim Cook’s impact on Apple

During his time as CEO, Cook transformed Apple into a more diverse company, with innovations such as the Apple Watch and Apple Pay. Under his leadership, Apple has grown by more than 100,000 employees and the number of installed devices has increased by more than 2.5 billion. Cook will also remain on as CEO this summer to ensure a smooth transition to Ternus.

Future developments under John Ternus

Now that Ternus is taking over as CEO, both employees and customers will be curious about the direction he sets for Apple. With rumors of a foldable iPhone in development, Ternus faces a challenging period in which he must continue the company’s innovative spirit. Cook has confidence in Ternus’ abilities and his potential to take Apple even further, which will be important for the company’s future.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), taking place from 8 to 12 June, will be opened by Cook with the keynote. Although no new iPhone models will be unveiled, several updates for operating systems such as iOS, macOS and tvOS are expected to be presented. The event will also give developers the opportunity to integrate new features into their apps in preparation for the upcoming updates.