
Tim Cook stepped down as Apple CEO in November 2026 after leading the company for 15 years.
John Ternus, who previously served as Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, assumed the role as the company marked its 50th anniversary.
Apple's board executed a planned leadership transition rather than responding to external pressure. Ternus held his first earnings call as CEO on November 2, 2026, presenting Apple's Q4 results to investors and analysts.
Cook's departure reflects Apple's need for fresh technical leadership as the company navigates evolving hardware challenges and market competition. Ternus brings deep engineering expertise from his tenure overseeing product development across Apple's major hardware lines. The transition represents a generational shift in Apple's executive structure while maintaining continuity in the company's strategic direction.