New Apple CEO's Story of Feeling Insecure on His First Day at Work

Apple has just announced its new leader. John Ternus has been appointed as Apple’s new CEO, replacing Tim Cook. The name Ternus has long circulated as Cook’s successor. The 50-year-old man is a key architect in the development of Apple products, serving as the manager of hardware engineering for innovations in the iPad, AirPods, and the latest iPhone models. The announcement of Ternus also shows that Apple’s habit of prioritising internal promotions remains intact. Cook’s statement about Ternus may provide perspective on why Apple chose the new CEO. “He has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and a heart to lead with integrity and honour,” Cook said in Apple’s press statement on Ternus’s appointment. Ternus graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 with a degree in mechanical engineering. As a student, he was also active as a swimmer. After graduating, he worked as an engineer at Virtual Research, which developed VR devices. He joined Apple in 2001 as an engineer on the design team. In a speech as an alumnus at his campus in 2024, Ternus described his first day at Apple as a moment that was “both intimidating and thrilling.” “I initially doubted whether I was worthy. The people I met were very smart and confident; they knew far more about many things, but I’m grateful that I’m not someone who is ashamed to ask for help when I need it,” Ternus said, as quoted by CNBC International. His first project at Apple was a plastic computer monitor called the cinema display. That was the first time he experienced Apple’s highly detailed process. “Every experience sharpened my ability to find solutions from different angles. It gave me confidence and the willingness to try new things, and the perseverance to keep trying until I found a solution,” he told the students. In 2013, Ternus was appointed VP of Hardware Engineering, leading the development of Apple’s product lines including the Mac and iPad. He began leading iPhone development in 2021 when he was appointed Senior VP of Hardware Engineering. In the last five years, Ternus has overseen the design and performance of most of Apple’s new products, including the iPad and AirPods. He also played a significant role in Apple’s transition from Intel chips to its own designed chips. For Apple enthusiasts, Ternus is known as the person who first showcased the iPhone Air. In the press release on his appointment as CEO, Ternus admitted he was very fortunate to have worked under Steve Jobs and Cook. “I’m very optimistic about what we can achieve in the coming years. I’m very happy to know the most talented people on Earth at Apple, and I want to become something greater than all of us,” Ternus said.