Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after 15 years leading the company
Photo: Tim Cook will remain in his position until summer (Getty Images)
Apple has announced a change in its leadership. John Ternus will replace Tim Cook as CEO starting September 1, 2026, according to CNBC.
Who is John Ternus
John Ternus previously served as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. He was responsible for developing key products, including the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and AirPods lineups.
After taking over as CEO, he will also join the company’s board of directors.
What is known about the transition
Tim Cook will remain CEO until the end of the summer to ensure a smooth transition.
After that, he will become Executive Chairman of the Board. Current non-executive chairman Arthur Levinson will serve as lead independent director.
“This has been the greatest honor of my life — to serve as CEO of Apple,” Cook said.
Tim Cook’s achievements
During Cook’s tenure, Apple’s market capitalization increased by about 24 times, reaching $4 trillion as of Monday’s market close.
According to media reports, Apple is also preparing a major update to its iOS 27 operating system, which will integrate new artificial intelligence features into apps like Safari and Wallet. The announcement is expected at the WWDC conference in June 2026.
In addition, it was recently revealed that iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphones have been included in the equipment list for NASA’s Artemis 2 mission. This is one of the first cases where the space agency has allowed crew members to bring smartphones on a flight to another celestial body, the Moon.
Astronauts will use them to document the journey, although NASA has imposed strict limitations on certain device functions.
