Who is Apple’s new CEO John Ternus? What role will Tim Cook take next?

Apple Inc. on Tuesday announced that John Ternus will be its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO), signalling a major leadership transition at the iPhone maker, with incumbent CEO Tim Cook set to move into the role of Executive Chairman later this year.

The change marks the end of an era at one of the world’s most valuable companies and comes at a time when the global technology industry is rapidly evolving, particularly with advances in artificial intelligence.

Ternus, who joined Apple’s product design team in 2001, has held several key roles within the company. He was appointed Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and joined the executive team in 2021 as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, reporting directly to Cook.

A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Ternus previously worked at Virtual Research Systems before joining Apple.

The company has not disclosed details of Ternus’ compensation, though the announcement has sparked widespread public interest in his remuneration.

Under the transition plan, Cook will assume the position of Executive Chairman from September 1, 2026, succeeding Arthur Levinson. He is expected to remain closely involved in the company during the leadership transition, with Ternus reporting to him.

Industry observers say Apple’s decision to elevate its long-time hardware chief reflects a renewed focus on engineering-led innovation, particularly in driving growth in core product lines such as the Mac and advancing new offerings, including potential next-generation devices.

The transition is also seen as a continuity move, with Ternus, aged 50, taking over at the same age Cook did when he succeeded Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011.