Apple is entering a new chapter. Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO on September 1, 2026, ending a remarkable 15-year leadership era. John Ternus will become Apple’s next CEO after spending more than two decades helping develop some of the company’s most important products.
The timing makes this transition even more interesting. Ternus takes charge just days before Apple’s September 9 product event. The company is expected to introduce its latest iPhone lineup and potentially reveal its first foldable iPhone.
Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO After 15 Years
Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after leading the company since 2011. Apple says the transition follows a long-term succession plan approved unanimously by its board. Cook will become executive chairman while Ternus assumes the CEO position on September 1.
For Apple users, this isn’t simply another executive change. Cook’s tenure reshaped Apple’s business, expanded its global reach and created major new product categories. His departure therefore closes one of the most influential chapters in modern technology.
Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s New CEO?
John Ternus has spent almost his entire professional career at Apple. He joined the company in 2001 and eventually became vice president of Hardware Engineering before joining Apple’s executive team as senior vice president in 2021.
His background is especially important because Ternus understands Apple’s product development process from the inside. He worked across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods projects. That experience gives Apple’s new leader a deep understanding of the company’s engineering culture.
John Ternus’ Engineering Background
Ternus studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania before working as a mechanical engineer outside Apple. His career later moved toward consumer technology, where he became closely involved with Apple’s hardware development and product innovation.
Why Is Tim Cook Leaving Apple’s CEO Role?
Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO as part of a planned leadership succession rather than an unexpected departure. Apple announced the transition months earlier and said Cook would work closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover.
The change also keeps Cook connected to the company. As executive chairman, he will continue supporting certain areas of Apple’s business, including engagement with policymakers around the world. That arrangement gives Apple access to his experience during an important transition.
Tim Cook’s Biggest Achievements at Apple
Cook inherited Apple after Steve Jobs and helped build an enormous global business. During his tenure, Apple introduced products such as Apple Watch, AirPods and Vision Pro while expanding services including iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple Music and Apple TV.
Apple also experienced extraordinary financial and global growth under Cook. The company said its annual revenue increased from $108 billion in fiscal 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal 2025. Its active installed device base also grew beyond 2.5 billion devices.
| Area | Cook-era development |
|---|---|
| CEO tenure | 2011–2026 |
| Apple Services | Grew into a $100B+ business |
| Active devices | More than 2.5 billion |
| Global reach | More than 200 countries and regions |
| Major categories | Apple Watch, AirPods, Vision Pro |
| Silicon | Major transition to Apple-designed chips |
What Will Tim Cook Do After Leaving as CEO?
Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, but he isn’t leaving Apple entirely. He will become executive chairman of the board, allowing him to remain involved while Ternus takes responsibility for Apple’s daily leadership.
Cook’s new position could provide continuity during the transition. His knowledge of Apple’s operations, global relationships and policymaking environment may remain valuable as the company enters its next phase.
How Could John Ternus Change Apple?
Ternus could bring an engineering-focused perspective to the CEO office. His career has centered on hardware development, product reliability, materials and design. That background may influence how Apple approaches future devices and the balance between innovation, durability and manufacturing complexity.
However, Ternus inherits an organization much larger than the one Cook took over. Apple now operates across hardware, services, software, artificial intelligence and a vast global ecosystem. Maintaining that machine while finding the next major breakthrough will be his central challenge.
Apple’s Biggest Challenge Under John Ternus: AI
Artificial intelligence could become one of Ternus’s defining tests. Apple has been developing Apple Intelligence while competitors continue pushing aggressively into generative AI, AI assistants and intelligent devices.
The challenge isn’t simply adding another chatbot. Apple must make AI useful across iPhone, Mac and other devices while preserving its long-standing emphasis on privacy. The company’s future AI strategy could strongly influence how consumers view the next generation of Apple products.
What Tim Cook’s Exit Means for the iPhone
The timing is fascinating because Ternus becomes CEO just before Apple’s next major product event. Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO on September 1, while Apple is scheduled to hold its next major launch event on September 9.
That event could become an early public test of Ternus’s leadership. Apple’s latest iPhone generation will receive enormous attention, and investors will closely watch whether the company can maintain its powerful upgrade cycle under its new CEO.
Could Apple Finally Launch a Foldable iPhone?
A foldable iPhone could become one of the biggest hardware stories of the new Apple era. Reuters reports that Apple may unveil its first foldable iPhone during the September event, potentially entering a market where Samsung has already established a strong position.
The product could also help Apple target customers looking for a dramatically different smartphone experience. If Apple enters the category, its approach to design, software integration and pricing could reshape the premium foldable market.
Why a Foldable iPhone Matters
Apple rarely enters a product category simply to follow competitors. A successful foldable iPhone could therefore become more than another device. It could demonstrate how Ternus intends to combine engineering expertise with Apple’s broader product ecosystem.
What’s Next for Apple Under John Ternus?
The next Apple era will likely revolve around several major themes: artificial intelligence, new iPhone designs, foldable devices, services and continued hardware innovation. Ternus also inherits Apple’s enormous ecosystem of customers, developers and devices.
The September event will offer an early glimpse of what comes next. Beyond that launch, the bigger question is whether Ternus can preserve Apple’s strengths while creating products that feel genuinely new. Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, but Apple’s story is far from finished.
Final Thoughts
Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after one of the longest and most consequential leadership periods in the company’s history. His tenure transformed Apple’s scale, services business and product ecosystem while establishing new categories such as Apple Watch and AirPods.
Now John Ternus takes the wheel. His engineering background makes him an unusual but highly experienced successor. With AI advancing rapidly and new hardware categories emerging, the next few years could determine how Apple defines its second half-century.
Sources: Apple Newsroom — Tim Cook and John Ternus leadership transition · Reuters — Apple September 9, 2026 event
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