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John Ternus becomes Apple CEO as Tim Cook transitions to Executive Chairman

Confirmed1 source · Sep 4, 2026

Tim Cook has stepped down as CEO, replaced by former hardware chief John Ternus, who faces a major iPhone event in his first week.

John Ternus becomes Apple CEO as Tim Cook transitions to Executive Chairman
Image via TechCrunch

What happened

Tim Cook stepped down as CEO of Apple this week and handed the role to John Ternus, the company's former hardware chief. Ternus issued a memo in his new position promising a "huge launch next week," putting a major iPhone event on his agenda before he has had time to settle into the role. Cook remains at the company as Executive Chairman, focused on policy relationships.

Context

The transition occurs at a moment when Apple faces significant near-term product announcements, requiring immediate attention from new leadership. Cook's shift to Executive Chairman keeps him involved in policy relationships, an area where he has recently navigated complex public matters. The question of how much operational freedom shareholders will grant Ternus as he establishes his leadership and executes a major product event in his opening weeks remains open.