Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO, Here is His New Position

Apple Inc., the maker of the iPhone, has officially announced a major change in its leadership structure. The current CEO, Tim Cook, will take on a new role after 15 years leading the company. Tim Cook will become the Executive Chairman, or the leader of Apple’s Board of Directors. This decision was approved by the board of directors and is part of the company’s long-term succession planning process. In his new role as Executive Chairman, Cook will not completely leave Apple. He will remain involved in several strategic aspects of the company, including relations with policymakers in various countries. Meanwhile, the position of Apple CEO will be filled by John Ternus starting 1 September 2026. Tim Cook will continue to serve as CEO until the summer of 2026 (June-August) to ensure a smooth transition alongside Ternus. In an official blog post, Cook expressed pride in being Apple’s CEO and described it as the greatest honour of his life. Regarding his successor, Cook assessed Ternus as the right person to steer Apple into the next generation. “John Ternus is a visionary with strong technical skills, high integrity, and more than 25 years of experience at Apple. I am confident he is the right person to grow Apple’s business in the future,” said Tim Cook. In addition to the changes in Cook’s and Ternus’s positions, Apple is also making adjustments to its board of directors. Arthur Levinson, who has served as non-executive chairman, will become lead independent director starting 1 September 2026. Meanwhile, Ternus will also join the board of directors on the same date. Cook’s successor is no stranger to Apple. John Ternus has worked at the company for more than two decades. He joined in 2001 and currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Throughout his career, Ternus has played a key role in developing various Apple products, including the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and AirPods.