From Engineer to CEO: Meet John Ternus, set to replace Tim Cook as Apple’s next CEO

Apple has announced a leadership change and named John Ternus as its next chief executive officer. The appointment will take effect from September 1, 2026, according to an Apple release.

Ternus will succeed Tim Cook, following a succession plan approved by the company’s board of directors. Cook will continue as CEO until the summer of 2026. After that, he will take on the role of executive chairman. The company said he will also support selected responsibilities, including engagement with policymakers, during the transition period.

Who is John Ternus

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Ternus is currently serving as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering at Apple. He has spent most of his professional career at the company.

He joined Apple in 2001 as part of the product design team. He became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013. In 2021, he joined the company’s executive team as senior vice president.

In his current role, he oversees hardware engineering for key products, including iPhone, Mac, iPad, AirPods and Apple Watch, as per the Apple release.

The company said Ternus has been involved in several product developments over the years. His work includes contributions to product lines such as iPad and AirPods, as well as multiple generations of Apple devices.

Role in hardware and technology

Apple said Ternus has played a role in hardware design and engineering decisions across products. His work has focused on improving durability, reliability and performance.

The company also said its team has worked on manufacturing methods and material use. These include recycled aluminium in products and 3D-printed titanium components in Apple Watch Ultra models.

Ternus has also been part of Apple’s transition to in-house silicon chips. The company said this shift has improved performance and power efficiency across devices. In addition, he has contributed to product repairability efforts and features aimed at extending device life.

Early career and education

Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Cook’s tenure and transition

Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011 after joining the company in 1998. During his tenure, Apple expanded its product and services portfolio. The company launched products such as the Apple Watch and AirPods. It also expanded services, including Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud and Apple TV, according to the Apple release.

Apple said its global presence increased under Cook’s leadership, with operations in more than 200 countries and territories. The company also expanded its retail network and user base.

Cook said Ternus is suited to lead the company. He described him as having strong engineering and leadership capabilities, as per the release.

Board changes

Arthur Levinson, who has been non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become lead independent director from September 1, 2026. The company said Levinson will continue to work with the board during the transition.

Ternus will join Apple’s board of directors once he takes charge as CEO. The company said the leadership transition is part of a planned process, as outlined in the Apple release.