John Ternus in the spotlight as possible successor to Tim Cook as Apple CEO: Reports
John Ternus currently serves as Apple’s Vice President of Hardware Engineering
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Published: Oct 7, 2025 8:42 AM | 1 min read
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- Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO since August 2011, will turn 65 next month, prompting discussions about his succession.
- Apple is reportedly preparing for a leadership transition, with John Ternus, Vice President of Hardware Engineering, seen as the leading candidate to succeed Cook.
- Ternus has over 20 years of experience at Apple and is considered a balanced choice compared to other executives who are either much younger or older.
- In case of an unexpected departure, interim leadership could be assumed by Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan or retail chief Deirdre O’Brien, but Ternus is expected to be the formal successor.
Tim Cook took over as Apple’s CEO in August 2011, stepping in after Steve Jobs stepped down. With Cook turning 65 next month, talks about who might succeed him are growing within the company. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is already working on plans to ensure a smooth leadership handover when the time comes.
John Ternus, who currently serves as Apple’s Vice President of Hardware Engineering, has been with the company for more than 20 years and is widely seen as the leading candidate to take over from Cook. The report points out that most other top executives at Apple are either much younger or older than Ternus, making him a well-balanced choice for the role.
In the event of an unexpected departure, Apple could appoint an interim CEO, with Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan or retail chief Deirdre O’Brien as possible temporary leaders. Still, the formal transition is expected to put John Ternus front and center as Apple’s next CEO.
So far, Apple has not made any official statements regarding these succession plans.
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