Apple Inc. has confirmed that CEO Tim Cook will step down later in 2026, with longtime executive John Ternus set to take over as chief executive on September 1.
The transition follows a unanimous board decision and is part of a long-planned succession strategy. Cook will remain through the summer to support the handover before moving into the role of executive chairman.
Cook, who has led Apple since 2011 after succeeding Steve Jobs, called the role the greatest privilege of his life and said he will continue contributing to the company, including working with global policymakers.
Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, has spent over two decades at the company and played a key role in developing products like the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
He credited both Cook and Jobs as major influences on his leadership.
During Cook’s tenure, Apple grew into one of the world’s most valuable companies, expanding its product lineup and scaling services such as iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple TV, and Apple Music.
The leadership change marks one of Apple’s biggest shifts in over a decade.