Tim Cook no longer Apple CEO effective today, John Ternus takes over

Tim Cook is no longer the CEO of Apple. After leading the company for 15 years, Cook has stepped down from the role, with John Ternus taking the reins from today, September 1.John Ternus succeeds Tim Cook as Apple CEO today.Tim Cook is no longer Apple CEO. After leading the company for 15 years, the veteran is now stepping down from his role. From today, September 1, John Ternus succeeds Cook as CEO at Apple. Tim Cook took the reins as Apple CEO in August 2011 when he succeeded Steve Jobs.A day before the change, Tim Cook wrote on X, “My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will.”Cook’s successor, John Ternus, was previously Apple’s hardware engineering chief, having played a major role in the company’s latest devices, including the iPhone Air.Tim Cook will remain at AppleWhile Tim Cook is no longer the Apple CEO, he will remain at the company, but as executive chairman. As per Apple, Cook will continue to assist with certain aspects of the business in his new role, including engaging with policymakers around the world. The leadership change marks Apple’s biggest transition at the top in almost 15 years. It also comes at a time when Apple is in a strong financial position after setting all-time quarterly revenue records in recent quarters.During Cook’s tenure, Apple expanded its portfolio with launches including the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and Vision Pro, while also growing services such as Apple Music and Apple TV. The company saw its valuation increase from $350 billion in 2011 to over $4.5 trillion today.Who is John Ternus? John Ternus joined Apple in 2001. His latest role before becoming CEO was senior vice-president of hardware engineering at the company. Ternus is known for his role in developing key Apple products, including Macs, iPads and AirPods.According to reports, Ternus oversaw the development of devices that generate roughly 80 per cent of Apple’s revenue. He is also widely credited with helping revive Mac sales, expanding Apple’s premium Pro line-up, and playing a key role in the shift to Apple’s own silicon in Macs through the M-series chips.In recent months, John Ternus took on higher-profile public appearances, including introducing the iPhone Air during the iPhone 17 series launch and presenting the MacBook Neo at a special event earlier this year.Though he seems to have a relatively low profile online. In April, when Apple announced the leadership change, Ternus’ official LinkedIn profile did not have a profile picture.John Ternus’ first public appearance as Apple CEO is expected to be on September 9 during the company’s launch event. We can expect to see Ternus on stage at the event where Apple will likely announce the iPhone 18 Pro series and the first-ever iPhone Fold. India Today Tech will bring you the latest updates from the Apple event.- EndsPublished By: Armaan AgarwalPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 09:00 IST