Apple CEO Tim Cook To Step Down After 15 Years At The Helm

Powered by:

Last Updated:April 21, 2026, 02:51 IST

Tim Cook to step down as CEO, becoming executive chairman, with John Ternus to take over as CEO on September 1.

Tim Cook will step down as CEO of Apple, the company announced Monday, with John Ternus set to take over the top role from September 1. Cook will transition to the position of executive chairman of Apple’s board.

Calling it the “greatest privilege" of his life, Cook said leading Apple had been an extraordinary journey. He praised Ternus as “a visionary" with “the mind of an engineer and the soul of an innovator," expressing confidence in his ability to guide the company into its next phase.

Cook has served as Apple’s CEO since 2011, taking over from co-founder Steve Jobs shortly before Jobs’ death. During his tenure, Cook oversaw Apple’s transformation into the world’s most valuable company, significantly expanding its services business—including Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple TV+, while continuing to drive growth in flagship products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Before becoming CEO, Cook joined Apple in 1998 as Senior Vice President for Worldwide Operations. He was widely credited with building one of the most efficient global supply chains in the tech industry, helping Apple scale rapidly while maintaining high margins.

Under Cook’s leadership, Apple also made major strides in areas such as wearables—launching products like the Apple Watch and AirPods—and deepened its focus on privacy, sustainability, and renewable energy. He has been a strong advocate for user data protection, frequently positioning Apple as a privacy-first company in contrast to its competitors.

Cook, who holds an MBA from Duke University and a degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University, previously worked at IBM and Compaq before joining Apple. Known for his calm, operationally driven leadership style, he steered the company through intense competition, global supply chain disruptions, and regulatory scrutiny.

With John Ternus set to take charge, Apple is expected to continue focusing on hardware innovation alongside its growing ecosystem of services, as it navigates an increasingly competitive and regulated global tech landscape.

News tech Apple CEO Tim Cook To Step Down After 15 Years At The Helm

Read More