In a surprise announcement on Monday, Apple announced its transition plan,with John Ternus stepping into Tim Cook's CEO position, effective September 1, 2026.
"Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition," Apple said in a statement. "As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world."
Tim Cook on John Ternus
Cook had much to say about Ternus' appointment as CEO.
"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," said Cook. "I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world," said Cook.
John Ternus (left) and Tim Cook (right) on the Apple Park campus - Image credit Apple
"John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future," added Cook. "I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman."
Ternus on being CEO, and his past at Apple
Ternus emerged from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ternus joined Apple in 2001, using his experience at Virtual Research Systems to become part of the product design team.
His initial work at Apple included the development of the revered Apple Cinema Display.
However, it didn't take long for Ternus to start his rise among the ranks. Approximately three years after joining Apple, he became a manager on the hardware team.
Steve Siefert, Ternus's first boss within Apple, said that the engineer made a decision to stay close to his team instead of being more autocratic. When moving floors and being given the option of a closed office in an open plan space, he decided to work nearby his team, to better motivate them.
John Ternus - image credit Apple
This apparently wasn't a one-off. When Siefert retired in 2011, Ternus was offered his office, but elected to remain with his open-space team.
The next major jump in his Apple career came in 2013, when he became a Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013, serving as a lieutenant to Dan Riccio, then head of hardware.
As part of his ascendance to the role, Ternus was given an even bigger remit. He was tasked with managing not only the Mac team, but also the iPad group too.
He was also instrumental in the development and transition of the Mac lineup from Intel chips to Apple Silicon. As part of this, he took a prominent role in keynote presentations, detailing the shift to the in-house-designed chips, and in the interviews that ensued.
In 2021, Ternus joined the executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering
"I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple's mission forward," said Ternus. "Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor."
"It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us," Ternus said in Apple's statement about the succession. "I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century."
There will be much more to discuss about this transition in the coming weeks.
