Tim Cook has ended his 15-year run as Apple’s chief executive, handing the role to John Ternus.Cook closed his time as CEO on Monday, August 31, with a message to Apple employees thanking them for their support and reflecting on the years he spent leading the company. Ternus officially takes over on Tuesday, September 1.Cook will not leave Apple completely, as he will become executive chairman of the board, while Arthur Levinson moves from chairman to lead independent director. Apple announced the leadership change in April after its board approved the succession plan.In his final message to staff, Cook said he was handing the company to a leader he trusted.“Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership,” Cook wrote.That choice gives Ternus a different starting point from Cook. He has spent most of his Apple career working on products rather than running the entire company.Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and became senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2021. He has overseen hardware development across products including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods. Apple now places that product experience at the centre of its succession plan.Cook, by contrast, built his reputation around operations and Apple’s supply chain before becoming CEO. Steve Jobs hired him in 1998, and Cook became chief executive in 2011, shortly before Jobs died.During Cook’s tenure, Apple expanded well beyond the iPhone. The company introduced products such as the Apple Watch, AirPods and Vision Pro while building its services business around Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud and Apple Pay.The financial growth was even more impressive, as Apple was worth about $347 billion when Cook became CEO. Its market value stood at about $4.62 trillion at the close of trading on August 31, 2026.Ternus therefore inherits a company that is much larger than the one Cook took over. He also inherits a business facing questions that will impact Apple’s next few years.Artificial intelligence sits high on that list, with Apple struggling to match the pace set by companies such as Google and OpenAI, while delays around its more advanced Siri capabilities have increased pressure on the company to show progress.Apple has also turned to outside partners in parts of its AI strategy, including Google. That makes the technology one of Ternus’s biggest early tests as CEO.The timing leaves little room for a long adjustment period.Apple will hold its next major product event on September 9, just eight days after Ternus takes the top job. The company is expected to introduce its latest iPhone range, with a foldable iPhone also widely expected to feature in the launch.The new CEO will also have to deal with supply chain pressure, particularly as demand for advanced chips rises across the technology industry. Apple still relies heavily on a complex global manufacturing network, while China remains important both as a production base and as a major market.In terms of regulatory pressure, Apple still faces investigations over its App Store policies and business practices in the US and European Union.Cook’s move to executive chairman means he will remain involved, particularly in areas where his experience and relationships could help Apple. Apple said he would assist with some matters, including engagement with policymakers around the world.For Ternus, however, the job starts now, taking over an Apple that Cook reshaped into one of the world’s most valuable companies. His task is to keep that strength while convincing customers and investors that the company can compete in the next technology phase.
Related: Nigeria Gets New Startup Launchpad
