Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Tim Cook Introduces John Ternus to Pikachu Before Apple Handover
Tim Cook is getting ready to stop being Apple’s CEO.
Before he leaves, he introduced the next CEO, John Ternus, to Pikachu.
Pikachu visited Apple’s headquarters in California.
The mascot walked through an orchard, danced, and went toward a pond.
Tsunekazu Ishihara from The Pokémon Company was also there.
He used Pokémon GO to show how the game connects digital characters with real places.
Apple and Pokémon already work together through several games and apps.
Ternus will become CEO on September 1, while Cook becomes executive chairman.
Ternus is expected to appear at an Apple event on September 9.
Tim Cook shared a video of Pikachu visiting Apple Park with incoming CEO John Ternus.
The Pokémon mascot explored Apple’s orchard, rainbow-arched stage and pond in Cupertino.
The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara attended and demonstrated Pokémon GO using Applin.
The visit coincided with the Pokémon World Championships beginning in San Francisco on August 28.
Cook is scheduled to become executive chairman on September 1, when Ternus takes over as Apple CEO.
- Who
- Apple CEO Tim Cook, incoming CEO John Ternus, Pikachu and Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara.
- What
- Cook introduced Ternus to Pikachu during a Pokémon team visit to Apple Park.
- When
- The visit took place days before Cook’s scheduled September 1, 2026, handover; the reports were published August 28, 2026.
- Where
- Apple Park in Cupertino, California; the Pokémon World Championships were scheduled for San Francisco.
- Why
- The exact business purpose was not publicly disclosed, but the visit coincided with the Pokémon World Championships and gave Pokémon leadership an opportunity to meet Ternus.
- Apple leadership change
- John Ternus is scheduled to become Apple CEO on September 1, while Tim Cook becomes executive chairman.
- Ternus’s current role
- Ternus currently serves as Apple’s hardware engineering chief.
- Pokémon representative
- Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company, attended the visit.
- Featured game
- Ishihara used Pokémon GO to send out Applin during the visit.
- Related event
- The Pokémon World Championships were scheduled to begin in San Francisco on August 28.
- Apple-Pokémon relationship
- Apple platforms support Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon Champions and Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.
- Upcoming Apple event
- Ternus is expected to appear at Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event on September 9, where new iPhones and a foldable device were widely expected.
