Apple announced Monday that Tim Cook will transition from CEO to executive chairman effective September 1, 2026, handing leadership of the company to John Ternus, the senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. The leadership change marks the end of Cook's nearly 15-year tenure as the company's chief executive and represents one of the most carefully planned corporate transitions in recent history.
Cook will remain in his current role through the summer, working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover before the iPhone event season begins. As executive chairman, Cook will continue to engage with policymakers globally while assisting with select aspects of company operations. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and has held leadership positions in hardware engineering since his promotion to senior vice president in 2021, will join Apple's board as CEO. The transition was unanimously approved by Apple's board of directors, suggesting it followed an extensive long-term succession planning process.
The announcement also triggered organizational changes throughout Apple's leadership structure. Johny Srouji has been promoted to the newly created position of chief hardware officer, expanding his responsibilities to oversee both Hardware Engineering and the hardware technologies organization. This restructuring positions the company's hardware strategy under consolidated leadership as Ternus steps into the top role.
Ternus inherits a company that has been fundamentally transformed under Cook's leadership over the past 15 years. According to reports covering the transition, Cook is handing Ternus a pipeline of major new product categories in development, providing the incoming CEO with significant innovation momentum. This includes a foldable iPhone, which sources indicate will be among Ternus's first major product launches. The transition timing, occurring just before Apple's traditional fall product announcement cycle, allows Ternus to unveil new innovations as his first major initiatives.
The carefully orchestrated nature of this succession reflects Apple's recognition of the stakes involved in changing leadership at one of the world's most valuable companies. Rather than an abrupt departure, the six-month overlap between Cook's step-down announcement and his actual transition provides stability for investors, employees, and customers. For Apple's workforce, Ternus has already begun communicating his vision, recently discussing the company's direction on artificial intelligence and services with employees.
