NAIROBI, Kenya – Apple Inc. is entering a major leadership transition, with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook set to step down in September and assume the role of executive chairman.
In a letter to stakeholders, Cook described the move as part of a planned succession, handing over day-to-day operations after 15 years at the helm.
“I will be transitioning into a new role, leaving the CEO job behind in September and becoming Apple’s executive chairman,” Cook, 65, said.
His transition marks the end of post-Steve Jobs era defined by operational discipline, supply chain expansion, and sustained revenue diversification.
The company has named John Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, as its next CEO.
Since succeeding Steve Jobs, Cook repositioned Apple from a hardware-centric company into a hybrid model combining devices with high-margin services.
Under his leadership, offerings such as Apple TV, Apple Pay, and Apple News evolved into significant revenue drivers, complementing the continued dominance of the iPhone.
Cook also oversaw the development of Apple’s in-house silicon, a move that strengthened vertical integration and improved product performance across its ecosystem.
During his tenure, the company’s market valuation surged to approximately $4 trillion, cementing its status as one of the world’s most valuable corporations.
Under Cook, Apple also became heavily dependent on China as a manufacturing base. It has pivoted and is attempting to diversify its supply chain, but experts say it is a vulnerability that will take years to mitigate.
Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran, brings deep engineering expertise, having led hardware development across flagship products including the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, iPad, and AirPods.
His appointment is widely viewed as a signal that Apple intends to double down on hardware innovation amid intensifying competition.
The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for the tech industry, as companies race to scale capabilities in artificial intelligence, an area where Apple has faced growing pressure to accelerate.
