Apple Names New CEO to Replace Tim Cook: Who is John Ternus?

Apple on Monday named John Ternus as its next chief executive officer, marking the company’s first CEO transition since Tim Cook took the helm in 2011.

Cook will remain CEO through the summer before becoming Apple’s executive chairman, while Ternus is set to formally take over on September 1, following board approval of the succession plan.

In announcing the change, Apple said the move followed a “long‑term succession planning process,” emphasizing continuity at the world’s most valuable company.

Who is John Ternus?

Ternus, 49, has spent more than two decades at Apple and currently serves as senior vice president of hardware engineering, overseeing the development of marquee products including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple’s custom silicon strategy. He joined the company in 2001 and rose through the engineering ranks, becoming a prominent face at Apple product launches in recent years.

Widely viewed inside and outside the company as Cook’s natural successor, Ternus has been credited with guiding Apple through major hardware transitions, including the move to Apple‑designed chips for Macs and the expansion of its hardware lineup.

Ternus was born in May 1975 and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was also a competitive collegiate swimmer. He is known inside the company as a low‑profile executive focused on product design and engineering execution rather than public-facing leadership. In recent years, however, he has become a more visible figure, regularly presenting new hardware at Apple events and product launches.

Ternus keeps his personal life private; little is publicly known about his family, and Apple has not disclosed details about his net worth or personal background beyond his professional career.

Cook: Ternus is “the right person to lead Apple” forward

Cook said stepping aside after more than a decade as CEO was “the greatest privilege” of his life, praising Apple employees for their creativity and commitment to customers.

He said Ternus’s decades at the company have shown he has “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity,” calling him “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”

Cook joined Apple in 1998 as senior vice president for worldwide operations, recruited by co-founder Steve Jobs as the company struggled to recover from years of losses. A supply chain expert by training, Cook was credited with overhauling Apple’s manufacturing and logistics operations, sharply reducing inventory and shifting production to outside partners. He later became chief operating officer and took over day-to-day leadership during Jobs’ medical leaves.

Cook was named CEO in 2011, shortly before Jobs’ death, and went on to oversee a period of dramatic growth in which Apple expanded beyond the iPhone into wearables, services and custom silicon, while its market value climbed into the trillions.

He has taken a more active role engaging with President Donald Trump’s second administration, appearing publicly with the president and working closely with the White House on trade, manufacturing and technology policy. Cook has joined Trump at the White House and at overseas events to announce major U.S. investment commitments by Apple, including expanded domestic manufacturing, as the company navigates tariffs, supply‑chain pressures and regulatory scrutiny.

Cook has said he approaches the administration on “policy, not politics,” describing the Trump White House as accessible and emphasizing the importance of direct engagement on issues affecting Apple’s global operations.

Ternus thanks Jobs and Cook

Ternus said he was grateful for the chance to lead Apple, saying he is “filled with optimism” about what the company can achieve next.

He credited Apple’s workforce, saying the “most talented people on earth” remain committed to something larger than any individual, and said he was “humbled” to step into the role, pledging to lead with the values and vision that have defined Apple for decades.

Updates: 4/20/26, 5:33 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.