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Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to take over
John Ternus will take over as CEO and join Apple’s board of directors
Apple has announced that Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will step down from his role, marking the end of a transformative era for the tech giant.
Cook, who has led Apple since 2011 following the death of co-founder Steve Jobs, will transition to the position of executive chairman on September 1.
The tech giant said John Ternus, currently Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will take over as CEO and join Apple’s board of directors.
As part of the leadership reshuffle, long-serving non-executive chairman Arthur Levinson will become lead independent director.
The transition, widely anticipated within the industry, brings to a close one of the most significant CEO tenures in corporate history.
Cook assumed leadership at a time of uncertainty for Apple, just weeks before Jobs’ death, and went on to oversee extraordinary growth.
Under his leadership, Apple evolved into a roughly $4 trillion company, with revenues more than quadrupling.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple,” Cook said in a statement, expressing gratitude to the company’s employees and customers.
Cook joined Apple in 1998, initially tasked with overhauling its struggling supply chain.
Drawing on his experience at IBM and Compaq, he streamlined operations, reduced costs and built what became one of the most efficient manufacturing systems in the technology industry.
Though he lacked the showmanship of Jobs, Cook proved to be a steady and effective leader.
He had previously stepped in to run Apple during Jobs’ medical leaves in 2004, 2009 and 2011, positioning himself as the natural successor.
Ternus, who has been with Apple for more than two decades, has played a key role in the development of the company’s hardware products. His elevation signals continuity in Apple’s leadership as it navigates an increasingly competitive global tech landscape.
The leadership change marks a new chapter for Apple, as it looks to build on Cook’s legacy while adapting to future challenges in innovation, manufacturing and global markets.
