Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO for John Ternus

Tim Cook will step down as Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. on September 1, 2026, after 15 years in the position. He will transition to the role of executive chairman of the company's Board of Directors.

John Ternus, the current senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will succeed Cook as CEO. During his tenure since 2011, Cook shifted the company toward an operations-led business model, expanded services through Apple Music and Apple TV+, and oversaw the move to proprietary M-series chips. He also established a financial strategy centered on share-buyback programs and dividends.

On August 27, Cook hosted Ternus and The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The meeting served as an introduction between Ternus and the Pokémon team, who were traveling to San Francisco for the Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships. Cook noted the agenda included discussing gaming and introducing Ternus to the team, while jokingly asking the mascot Pikachu to stay out of the pond.