Apple announced on Monday (April 20th) that John Ternus will take over as the CEO of the company on September 1st, replacing Tim Cook who will then serve as the executive chairman of the Apple board.
Ternus currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and will join the Apple board after assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer. At that time, Apple’s non-executive chairman Arthur Levinson will become the company’s Chief Independent Director.
In a press release, Apple stated, “Cook will continue to serve as CEO throughout the summer, during which he will closely collaborate with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition.”
This marks the first time the tech giant has changed its CEO since Cook took the helm of Apple from Steve Jobs in 2011.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has evolved from its initial focus on a few products such as Mac, iPod, and iPhone to become a significant player in emerging fields like entertainment, health, and wearable devices.
In a statement, Cook expressed, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as CEO of Apple and lead such an exceptional company. I wholeheartedly love Apple and am grateful for the opportunity to work with a team that is talented, innovative, creative, and deeply caring. They have always been steadfast in enriching customers’ lives and creating the best products and services in the world.”
Ternus, who has long been seen as a potential successor to Cook as CEO of Apple, has been a senior executive at the company for years. He joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and then Senior Vice President in 2021.
He has played a crucial role in the development of products like iPad and AirPods. Recently, he also led the launch of Apple’s first budget-friendly MacBook, the MacBook Neo, last month.
Ternus stated in a press release that he feels humbled and honored to take on the role, and he pledged to lead the company with the values and vision that Apple has held for over half a century.