Apple CEO John Ternus Takes Direct Control of Design

Apple CEO John Ternus has assumed direct oversight of the company's hardware and software design teams, effectively serving as the overall design leader. Since officially taking office on September 1, 2026, Ternus has immersed himself in the design process, visiting the studio several times a week and sometimes multiple times a day. This marks a significant shift from former CEO Tim Cook, who reportedly visited the studio for roughly one hour per month.

Ternus manages Molly Anderson, head of industrial design, and Steve Lemay, head of human interface design. The role of a dedicated Chief Design Officer has remained vacant since Jony Ive's departure in 2019, and the company is not currently searching for a replacement. Ternus began managing these teams during his transition to CEO following the departure of former COO Jeff Williams last year.

To facilitate this hands-on approach, Ternus is leveraging his background as a hardware engineer while delegating operational duties to other executives. Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan oversees the supply chain, and Chief Financial Officer Kevan Parekh manages finances. Ternus is also working to rejuvenate the design department by promoting junior designers and hiring external talent to replace staff lost to competitors like Meta and OpenAI.