Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, John Ternus named successor

Tim Cook has stepped down as Apple's chief executive after about 15 years in the role. John Ternus, who previously led hardware engineering at the company, became the new CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook, who is 65, will stay at Apple as executive chairman of the board. Apple's directors voted unanimously to approve the change. Cook first joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs left due to illness. During his time as CEO, Apple's value grew from around $350 billion to $4 trillion. The company also launched new product lines, including Apple Watch and AirPods, and services such as Apple Pay. Apple said the leadership change followed a long-term planning process.