Tim Cook, the executive who led Apple to become a $4 trillion company and defined its identity in the post-Steve Jobs era, is stepping down as CEO, Apple said on Monday.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over as CEO effective September 1. Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and will remain as CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth transition, the company said.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a press release.
The news comes amid a string of changes to Apple’s executive ranks in late 2025, including the departures of its AI chief, policy head and one of its top design leaders.
Cook, who became Apple’s CEO in 2011 after serving as its chief operating officer, was responsible for pushing Apple beyond the handful of products the company was initially known for, such as the Mac, iPod and iPhone. Under Cook’s leadership, Apple became a significant player in new areas like entertainment, health and wearables.
He also guided the company through defining moments in world history that had a profound impact on the company, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and trade war with China.
