Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after 14 years, John Ternus officially succeeds him.

Under Cook's leadership, Apple has expanded significantly into wearable devices with the Apple Watch and AirPods, while also venturing into services like streaming.

After more than a decade at the helm of Apple, Tim Cook has confirmed he will step down as CEO on September 1st. His successor is John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, who has long been considered a strong candidate for the position.

The transition process takes place during the summer.

According to the plan, the power transition will take place throughout the summer and coincide with the WWDC event in June – where Apple is expected to announce iOS 27. After this period, John Ternus will gradually take full control before the company enters its most important product launch season of the year, including the iPhone 18 series and possibly a foldable iPhone version.

After stepping down as CEO, Tim Cook will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board, continuing to be involved in strategic direction and working with global policymakers. Simultaneously, Ternus will also join the board, while Arthur Levinson will become the principal independent director.

Concluding the longest CEO tenure in Apple history.

Tim Cook officially became Apple's CEO in 2011, just two months before Steve Jobs' death. During his 14 years at the helm, he led Apple into a completely new phase of development, distinct from the earlier period focused on the iPhone and Mac.

Under Cook's leadership, Apple has significantly expanded into wearable devices with the Apple Watch and AirPods, while also venturing into services like streaming. One of the biggest milestones was the complete transition of the Mac line to Apple Silicon chips based on the ARM architecture, giving the company greater control over performance and optimizing its ecosystem.

Notably, Apple's market capitalization increased from approximately $350 billion to nearly $4 trillion during Cook's tenure – a figure that demonstrates the extent of its business success.

John Ternus – an unsurprising choice of successor.

John Ternus's appointment came as no surprise to the tech world. He joined Apple in 2001 and has been with the company for over 20 years. Since becoming head of hardware engineering in 2021, Ternus has played a key role in the development of many flagship products.

With its solid technical foundation and deep experience in the hardware ecosystem, Ternus is expected to continue Apple's growth momentum, especially as the company expands into new segments such as affordable laptops with the MacBook Neo.

Apple enters a new chapter.

In an internal memo, Tim Cook expressed his absolute confidence in his successor, while also thanking users for their support throughout Apple's journey.

This transition marks a major turning point, as Apple prepares to usher in a new generation of leadership. With what he has built over more than a decade, Tim Cook leaves a solid foundation – and now all eyes are on John Ternus to see how he will shape Apple's future in the next era.