John Ternus has taken over as Apple’s chief executive, ending Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure at the helm of the tech giant.
John Ternus officially took over as Apple’s chief executive officer on Tuesday, September 1, ending Tim Cook’s 15-year run leading the company. The handover marks one of the most significant leadership transitions in Apple’s history, and it comes as Cook’s farewell message to staff and customers spreads widely online.
Cook, who became Apple’s CEO in 2011 just two months before company co-founder Steve Jobs passed away, is not leaving Apple entirely. He moves into the role of executive chairman of the board, where he will focus on areas including the company’s relationships with policymakers around the world. Ternus, a 24-year Apple veteran who most recently served as senior vice president of hardware engineering, now steps into the top job.
Tim Cook’s Farewell Message Goes Viral
As Cook marked his final day as chief executive, he shared a message that quickly gained traction across social media. In a short post, he told the Apple community that his title was changing but his love for the company never would. He thanked employees and customers for their support, writing that his gratitude was endless and that he was excited for the next chapter.
Cook also sent a longer memo to Apple staff, later published by 9to5Mac, in which he reflected on his time at the company. He wrote that whatever success he achieved belonged to his team, describing them as the most extraordinary group of people he had ever worked with. He acknowledged that stepping away from a role he loved deeply would leave a void, but said he was at peace with the decision.
The transition was marked by several public moments in the days beforehand. Apple held a farewell dinner for Cook at Apple Park, featuring tributes from Ternus, Laurene Powell Jobs, and other current and former executives, along with a performance by OneRepublic, one of Cook’s favorite bands. In another moment that circulated widely, Cook shared a playful video of Pikachu exploring the Apple Park campus, taken as he introduced Ternus to the Pokémon team during a meeting about gaming.
Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s New CEO
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 as a member of the company’s Product Design team and rose through the ranks, becoming senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021. Over his career, he oversaw the hardware engineering teams behind several of Apple’s products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro.
Insiders have described continuity as the focus of the transition, with few immediate changes reported. Ternus takes over ahead of Apple’s special event scheduled for September 9, which will be his first major product launch as chief executive.
The change at the top comes during a period of broad change across the technology industry. Artificial intelligence has reshaped the sector, and Apple has faced questions about the pace of its work in the field. Earlier in the year, the company introduced new AI advances, including upgrades to its Siri assistant, with an emphasis on privacy and everyday use.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple’s value rose to around $4.6 trillion, driven in large part by the popularity of the iPhone. His tenure also saw the company expand beyond its hardware roots, with growth in services and wearables such as the Apple Watch and AirPods. The period included some setbacks, with the Vision Pro’s sales falling short of expectations and the cancellation of Apple’s long-rumored car project.
Ternus takes over as chief executive with a background centered in hardware engineering, having spent more than two decades at the company. Tim Cook remains at Apple in his new role as executive chairman of the board.
