Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO on September 1, Hardware Chief John Ternus Takes Over

Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO on September 1, 2026. He will remain at the company as executive chairman, but day-to-day leadership will pass to John Ternus, who currently heads Apple's hardware engineering division.

Cook has led Apple since 2011, when he took over from Steve Jobs. Under his tenure, Apple became the most valuable company in the world, expanded its services business, and launched the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Silicon chips.

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and has been a key figure in the development of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac product lines. He has been widely seen as a potential successor for several years. His background in hardware engineering positions him to lead Apple through a period when the company is betting heavily on AI integration across its devices.

Apple is also reorganizing its hardware group. Johny Srouji, who leads Apple Silicon development, will take on a broader role integrating device engineering and silicon strategy. The move is designed to tighten the connection between chip design and product development as AI capabilities become central to Apple's competitive position.

The leadership transition comes as Apple faces pressure on multiple fronts. The smartphone market is maturing, and rivals like Huawei are pushing into new form factors with foldable devices. Apple has not yet released a foldable iPhone, though reports suggest one is in development.

Cook's departure also comes as the broader tech industry is cutting jobs and redirecting resources toward AI. Meta is cutting approximately 8,000 positions. Microsoft is offering buyouts to about 7 percent of its U.S. workforce. Apple has not announced similar cuts, but the reorganization signals a shift in priorities.

Ternus is expected to address Apple employees and investors in the coming weeks. Cook will remain involved in strategic decisions as executive chairman.