Writes Farewell Memo, Tim Cook Praises Apple Employees

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Tim Cook’s career journey at Apple Inc. enters a new chapter. After nearly 15 years leading as chief executive officer (CEO), Cook announced he will end his tenure and move to the position of executive chairman, signalling a major leadership transition at one of the world’s most influential technology companies. Cook conveyed this decision through an internal memo to employees, a medium that also serves as a reflection on his career path since being entrusted to replace Steve Jobs in 2011. “Now is the right time,” Cook wrote, explaining the reasons for his resignation after leading Apple for more than a decade. Tim Cook’s career at Apple did not begin from the CEO chair. He joined in 1998 and is known as the figure who built the company’s operational foundations, from supply chains to production efficiency. That role became key in supporting Apple’s growth during the transition from Jobs’ leadership to a more mature corporate model. Cook himself recalls that moment as an emotional and challenging one, when he had to take on great responsibility amid high expectations for the sustainability of Apple’s innovation. During his leadership, Cook not only continued Jobs’ legacy but also shifted the company’s focus to become more structured and ecosystem-based. He expanded the product lines and services, while maintaining the company’s core values such as design, innovation, and user experience. He emphasised team collaboration and business stability as the foundation for long-term growth. In the memo to employees, Cook affirmed that Apple’s strength does not only come from its products, but from the people within it. “I want you all to know how meaningful it has been for me to work with you,” he wrote, adding that Apple’s success is the result of the team’s collective work.