Apple CEO John Ternus shares first memo to staff in new role

John Ternus used his first day as Apple's new CEO to preview a "phenomenal" iPhone launch and to thank predecessor Tim Cook. By Chance Townsend Chance Townsend Editor, General Assignments Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones. Read Full Bio on September 2, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Credit: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images John Ternus spent his first day as Apple's chief executive doing what most office workers do: sending out emails.According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who obtained the note, Ternus sent a staff-wide memo to preview what he called a standout showing at next week's iPhone event and to publicly thank Tim Cook, who spent 15 years at Apple's helm.Ternus, who previously ran Apple's hardware engineering organization, told staff he's looking forward to what comes after the September 9 launch just as much as the event itself. Gurman reported that Ternus called the coming iPhone reveal "phenomenal" in the memo, a preview that lines up with Apple's plans to introduce its first foldable iPhone and push further into smart home hardware, according to Bloomberg's reporting. The memo also included a tribute to Cook, who is staying on at Apple as executive chairman rather than leaving the company outright. Ternus credited his predecessor with sharing his knowledge throughout the transition and framed Cook's tenure as one defined by strong values, according to Bloomberg. Tuesday also marked Ternus's debut on X, where he joins Cook and marketing chief Greg Joswiak as the company's most visible executives on the platform. Mashable Light Speed This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Per Gurman's reporting, Joswiak indicated that Ternus will have more to share when he takes the stage at next week's "Surprise and Shine" event.Cook, for his part, sent his own farewell note to staff a day earlier, telling employees he'll miss the daily work but is confident in the direction Ternus will take the company.Ternus's promotion caps a long climb inside Apple. As we've detailed in an explainer of the incoming CEO, Ternus joined Apple in 2001 after a brief stint as a mechanical engineer, working his way from the product design team to VP of hardware engineering in 2013 and senior VP in 2021. Apple has credited him with hardware wins, including the iPhone Air and the MacBook Neo, as well as a pivotal role in the company's shift to using in-house Apple silicon. Ternus, at 50, is stepping into the CEO role at the same age Cook was when he succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011, and people close to the company see him bringing a more product-first, Jobs-like sensibility to the job than his predecessor.With AI widely seen as Apple's biggest competitive gap, Ternus's handling of the newly overhauled Siri is likely to be one of the first major tests of his leadership. For now, though, all eyes are on next week's keynote, the first major product event of the Ternus era.Top Apple Deals we found this week:Apple AirTag 2 (4-Pack) — $79.99 $99 (save $20)Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — $649 $749 (save $100)Apple iPhone Air (256GB, unlocked) — $849.99 $999.99 (save $150)Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,849 $1,999 (save $150)Shop all the best Apple Labor Day deals Editor, General Assignments Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social, by email at [email protected], or on Signal at 224-417-6628. These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.