#TernusNamedAppleCEO John Ternus Named Chief Executive Officer

Long-time Hardware Engineering Chief to Succeed Tim Cook, Who Becomes Executive Chairman

CUPERTINO, California – Apple Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed John Ternus as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, succeeds Tim Cook, who has been named Executive Chairman of the Board.

The move marks only the third CEO transition in Apple’s history, following the late Steve Jobs (1997–2011) and Tim Cook (2011–present).

A Proven Leader from Within

Ternus, 49, has been with Apple for over 22 years, rising through the engineering ranks to lead the teams responsible for the Mac, iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and the breakthrough M-series Apple silicon chips. He has been widely credited with delivering some of Apple’s most complex hardware innovations, including the all-in-one Mac design, the iPad Pro, and the recent Apple Vision Pro’s core mechanical architecture.

“John has always been one of the most brilliant and grounded leaders at Apple,” said Tim Cook, Executive Chairman. “He understands our engineering culture deeply, cares fiercely about product excellence, and has earned the trust of teams across the company. I couldn’t be more confident in his ability to lead Apple into its next era.”

Continuity with a Vision for the Future

In his first statement as CEO, Ternus emphasized continuity and long-term innovation:

“Apple’s greatest strength is the intersection of world-class technology with deeply human design. My focus will be to accelerate that mission—investing even deeper in our chip roadmap, spatial computing, and AI—while staying true to the values of privacy, sustainability, and quality that define this company. I am honored to follow two of the greatest CEOs in business history, and I intend to build on their legacy.”

Ternus also confirmed that Apple’s executive team will remain largely in place, with a search underway for a new Head of Hardware Engineering.

Industry and Investor Reaction

The appointment was widely praised by analysts. Ming-Chi Kuo (TF International Securities) noted: “Ternus represents product-first leadership. Under him, Apple’s hardware supply chain and silicon integration are likely to become even stronger.”

Apple’s stock was up 1.8% in after-hours trading following the announcement.

A Message to Customers and Employees

In an internal memo shared with Apple’s 160,000+ employees, Ternus wrote:

“We don’t just make products. We make tools that help people create, learn, and connect. That purpose remains unchanged. Let’s build the future—together.”