Apple CEO Tim Cook steps down after 15 years, hardware chief John Ternus takes over

John Ternus will become Apple’s chief executive on Tuesday, succeeding Tim Cook after a 15-year tenure. Cook, who took over from Steve Jobs in 2011, may remain involved as chairman of the board, focusing on strategic matters .

Ternus, 51, previously led Apple’s hardware engineering teams, overseeing the development of the iPhone and other devices. He joined Apple in 2001 and rose to senior vice president of hardware engineering, reporting directly to Cook . His first major test will come on Sept. 9, when Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at the company’s annual product event .

Cook leaves Apple with a market capitalization exceeding $4.6 trillion, annual revenue of $416.161 billion, and net profits above $112 billion. The company’s ecosystem includes 2.5 billion active devices, a foundation Ternus will inherit . Analysts note that Ternus must address Apple’s lag in artificial intelligence, a priority as competitors like OpenAI advance their own hardware projects. OpenAI has hired more than 400 former Apple employees, including ex-chief designer Jony Ive, for its AI-focused hardware initiatives .

Apple has also pursued legal action against former employees over alleged theft of trade secrets . Ternus, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, previously worked at Virtual Research Systems before joining Apple. He is credited with improving product durability and reducing the carbon footprint of Apple’s hardware .

Dan Ives, a partner at Yorkville Ives & Co., said Cook “left the house in phenomenal order” but added that Ternus must now define Apple’s AI strategy . Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies, argued that consumers still prioritize hardware, stating, “You’re not going to discover the value of AI if you’re not interested in the hardware” . Francisco Jeronimo of IDC said Ternus inherits a strong hardware ecosystem but faces pressure to deliver AI integration, noting that “the margin for disappointment is minimal” .