Tim Cook to exit Apple CEO role tomorrow after 15 years

Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO on September 1 after 15 years at the helm, with longtime hardware executive John Ternus set to become the company's new chief executive.Tim Cook will step down as Apple chief executive on 1 September, handing the role to John Ternus. (Photo: Reuters)Apple is preparing for a major leadership change as Tim Cook is set to leave his position as chief executive on September 1. After leading the company for 15 years, Cook will hand over the CEO role to John Ternus, one of Apple’s most senior hardware executives.The change does not mean Cook is leaving Apple. He will become executive chairman of the board and is expected to remain involved in selected areas of the business. Apple has said his responsibilities will include “engaging with policymakers around the world.”For Apple, the transition brings an end to a leadership era that began after Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO in 2011. Cook took charge during a period when the company was closely associated with Jobs and his product-focused leadership. Over the following years, Cook established his own approach to running Apple.Cook leaves after 15 years at the topDuring Cook’s time as CEO, Apple expanded beyond the iPhone and Mac with several major products and services. The company introduced the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and Vision Pro, while growing businesses such as Apple Music and Apple TV. Apple has also maintained strong financial performance in recent quarters, setting new quarterly revenue records. That gives Ternus a strong starting point as he takes control of the company.Talking about his time as CEO, Cook said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook also praised Ternus ahead of the handover, saying: “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor.” He added that Ternus was “without question, the right person to lead Apple into the future.”Ternus takes charge as Apple prepares for more changesThe new CEO will inherit a company whose senior leadership has already undergone several changes. Apple’s former CFO Luca Maestri moved away from the finance chief role around the end of 2024, while former COO Jeff Williams left the company at the end of 2025. General Counsel Kate Adams and environment chief Lisa Jackson have also departed.More leadership changes could be ahead. Bloomberg reports that Ternus may eventually have to oversee succession plans for senior executives responsible for areas including hardware, marketing, retail and human resources.Some of Apple’s current leaders have spent decades at the company, making the next few years an important period for building the next layer of management.Ternus has been at Apple for more than 25 years and now faces the task of guiding the company into its next chapter. He said: “I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come,” while expressing confidence in the people working at Apple.- EndsPublished By: Ankita GargPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 18:38 IST