Apple taps John Ternus to lead company as next CEO

Tim Cook will become Executive Chairman of Apple’s board of directors; Ternus to take over on September 1, 2026

by e4m Staff
Published: Apr 21, 2026 7:59 AM | 2 min read

John Ternus appointed CEO of Apple effective September 2026

John Ternus will become Apple’s next CEO on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook, who will transition to Executive Chairman of the board.
Ternus, currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, has been with Apple for over 20 years and has held various leadership roles since joining in 2001.
Tim Cook expressed confidence in Ternus's capabilities and emphasized the importance of his engineering expertise and leadership for Apple’s future growth.
Arthur Levinson will shift from non-executive chairman to lead independent director, commending Cook's leadership and expressing confidence in Ternus's understanding of Apple’s culture and products.

Apple has announced that John Ternus will become the company’s next Chief Executive Officer from September 1, 2026.

Current CEO Tim Cook will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of Apple’s board while continuing to work closely with Ternus during the leadership handover.

Ternus currently serves as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and has been with the company for more than two decades. He joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and later became Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013.

Speaking about the transition, Tim Cook said leading Apple has been the greatest honour of his life. He praised Ternus for his engineering expertise, innovative thinking and leadership qualities, adding that he is the right person to guide Apple into its next phase of growth. Cook also said he looks forward to supporting the company in his new position as Executive Chairman.

John Ternus said he feels grateful for the opportunity to lead Apple and continue its mission. He shared that working under Steve Jobs and being mentored by Tim Cook helped shape his journey at the company. Ternus added that he remains optimistic about Apple’s future and is committed to leading the company with the same values and vision that have defined it for decades.

Meanwhile, Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for the last 15 years, will take on the role of lead independent director as Ternus joins the company’s board.

Levinson praised Cook’s leadership, saying he helped transform Apple into one of the world’s most valuable and influential companies through consistent innovation and strong values. He also expressed confidence in Ternus, highlighting his technical expertise, leadership skills and deep understanding of Apple’s culture and products.

Cook also thanked Levinson for his guidance and contributions to the company over the years, saying his support and leadership have been extremely valuable to Apple.

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Published On: Apr 21, 2026 7:59 AM

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