John Ternus assumed the role of CEO on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, marking the end of Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure at the helm of the tech giant. Cook, who signaled his departure on August 31, 2026, will remain with the organization as executive chairman.
A New Era Begins at Apple
In a final memo to employees, Cook wrote that he would miss the work in ways he could only begin to imagine, even as he remained completely at peace with his decision. He added that he has enormous comfort
with his successor. On social media, Cook struck a reflective note, stating that while his title would change the following day, the love he had for the Apple community never would.
The Architect of Apple Silicon
Ternus is no stranger to the inner workings of Cupertino. An Apple veteran since 2001, he rose through the product design and hardware engineering ranks before joining the executive team in 2021. He managed hardware for the Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, and oversaw the company’s transition to in-house Apple Silicon chips.
He inherits a financial juggernaut. Apple became the first publicly traded U.S. company to surpass $1 trillion in market capitalization in 2018; that figure has since surged to approximately $4.75 trillion.
A Transition of Values
In his first memo to the staff as CEO, Ternus acknowledged the weight of the handoff. He wrote that he wanted to extend his deep appreciation to Tim for sharing so much of his knowledge and experience during the transition, and more importantly, for everything he had contributed to Apple over the years. He further remarked that the company was very fortunate to have had a CEO who led with his values and with such decency and humanity.
Eyes on the September 9 Launch
Ternus wasted no time turning his attention to the immediate horizon. He told staff that they had a huge launch coming up the following week that would be phenomenal.
Marketing chief Greg Joswiak confirmed the company has “more to say” on Wednesday, September 9. A special event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific Time at the Steve Jobs Theater.
The Next Wave of Hardware
Industry analysts expect the September 9 event to feature the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as the company’s first-ever foldable device, reportedly dubbed the iPhone Ultra. The lineup is also expected to include the Apple Watch Series 12, the Apple Watch Ultra 4, and potential updates to the AirPods 5.
Looking further ahead, Ternus expressed enthusiasm for the incredible products already in the works and those not yet imagined that the team would dream up and create together. He takes the reins as Apple continues to evolve, building on a legacy established during the Cook years—a period defined by the launch of the Apple Watch, AirPods, and the expansion of services like Apple Pay.