Apple Names Hardware Chief John Ternus as CEO, Tim Cook to Become Executive Chairman September 1

Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of the board and SVP of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will become CEO effective September 1, 2026. The transition, approved unanimously by Apple's board, follows a succession planning process that began at least a year ago. Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran, has worked on every major iPad generation, recent iPhones, AirPods, Apple Watch, and oversaw the Mac's transition from Intel to Apple silicon. Cook, CEO since 2011, will continue through the summer for a smooth transition and then focus on government relations as executive chairman. The announcement notably did not mention AI once, raising questions about Apple's AI strategy under new leadership.