Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Tim Cook Bids Farewell as Apple CEO, Begins Executive Chairmanship
Tim Cook is no longer the chief executive of Apple after 15 years in the job.
He said goodbye to the Apple community and thanked people for inspiring him.
Cook will become the executive chairman of Apple’s board.
John Ternus will become the new CEO on September 1.
Cook became CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs.
During his time as CEO, Apple introduced the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro headset.
Apple also moved its Mac computers from Intel chips to Apple’s own chips.
Cook said he is excited about the next chapter.
Tim Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO after a 15-year tenure.
Cook said his title would change, but his love for Apple’s community would not.
He will become executive chairman on September 1 as part of a planned leadership transition.
John Ternus, Apple’s hardware engineering chief since 2021, will succeed Cook as CEO.
During Cook’s tenure, Apple launched products including Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro, while expanding services and Apple Silicon.
- Who
- Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple’s CEO, and John Ternus will succeed him.
- What
- Apple is carrying out a planned leadership transition, with Cook becoming executive chairman.
- When
- Cook’s final day as CEO was Monday; Ternus is set to become CEO on September 1.
- Where
- The announcement concerns Apple Inc., based in California, and references the company’s retail expansion in Mumbai and Delhi.
- Why
- Apple’s Board of Directors approved the change as part of a long-planned leadership transition.
- Outgoing CEO
- Tim Cook
- Tenure
- 15 years as Apple CEO
- New role
- Executive chairman
- Successor
- John Ternus
- Transition date
- September 1
- CEO start date
- Cook became CEO in August 2011
- Notable launches
- Apple Watch in 2015, AirPods in 2016, and Vision Pro in 2024