Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus Succeeds
Apple has a new leader for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Tim Cook stopped being the company’s CEO on September 1.
He will still work at Apple as executive chairman.
John Ternus is now the CEO.
Ternus has worked at Apple since 2001 and helped oversee the development of products such as the iPhone, iPad, AirPods and Mac.
During Cook’s leadership, Apple became much more valuable and expanded its services business.
Apple also launched products and services including the Apple Watch, Apple Music and Vision Pro during that period.
Ternus must now help Apple compete in artificial intelligence while keeping its products and services working closely together.
John Ternus became Apple CEO on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook after nearly 15 years.
Tim Cook moved to the newly created role of executive chairman and will continue working with Apple.
Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and previously served as senior vice president of hardware engineering.
Cook’s tenure saw Apple’s market value rise from about $350 billion to between $4 trillion and $4.5 trillion, according to the articles.
Ternus faces the challenge of strengthening Apple’s artificial-intelligence strategy while maintaining its integrated ecosystem.
- Who
- Tim Cook and John Ternus are the central figures; Apple is the company involved.
- What
- John Ternus became Apple CEO, while Tim Cook became executive chairman.
- When
- The leadership change took effect on September 1, after Cook’s tenure began in August 2011.
- Where
- The change occurred at Apple, the United States technology company.
- Why
- Cook completed nearly 15 years as CEO, and Ternus is taking over as Apple confronts the technology industry’s rapid shift toward artificial intelligence.
- New CEO
- John Ternus
- Outgoing CEO
- Tim Cook
- Effective date
- September 1
- Cook’s new role
- Executive chairman
- Ternus’s previous role
- Senior vice president of hardware engineering
- Apple market value
- The articles report growth from about $350 billion in 2011 to roughly $4 trillion or $4.5 trillion today.
- Services revenue
- Apple’s services business generates more than $100 billion annually, according to one article.
