Apple hands CEO role to John Ternus as Tim Cook becomes executive chair

Apple’s leadership transition is now official: John Ternus, the longtime hardware chief who oversaw teams behind the company’s physical products, became CEO on September 1. Tim Cook has not left Apple; after 15 years as CEO, he has moved to executive chair, a board role that keeps him involved in selected company matters while Ternus runs the business. The handoff was announced in April as a planned succession rather than an abrupt departure, but it puts Ternus in charge at a consequential moment for Apple. In his first note to employees, he pointed to Apple’s September 9 product event, making the launch his first high-profile chance to show how the company will move forward under new leadership.