Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down, with the company announcing on Monday that John Ternus will take his place as the head of the technology giant.
Cook will become the executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors, the company said. Ternus will officially become CEO on Sept. 1.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a statement on Monday.
John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering at Apple Inc., during an Apple event in New York City, March 4, 2026.
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“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future,” Cook added.
Cook has served as Apple’s CEO since 2011.
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the keynote address at an Apple special event, September 9, 2025 in Cupertino, Calif.
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Ternus has worked at Apple since 2001 and became a vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013, according to the company. He has worked on several product lines, including the iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. He worked under Steve Jobs and referred to Cook as his mentor.
“I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us,” he said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.