As has been rumored for months, Tim Cook will step down as CEO of Apple. He will become CEO on September 1, 2026, when Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will lead the company.
the movement It comes after a “thoughtful long-term succession planning process,” according to Apple. Cook will continue to contribute to “certain aspects” of Apple as CEO, including conversations with politicians around the world.
As part of the change, Apple is appointing senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji to a new position of director of hardware, effective immediately. The role will give him an “expanded role” covering both the hardware engineering unit and Ternus’ hardware technologies.
The long legacy of Tim Cook
Great successes, but also some failures.
Tim Cook left Compaq to join Apple in 1998, shortly after co-founder Steve Jobs returned. He is best known for changing Apple’s operations, taking them from months of unsold stock and long product launches to lean inventories and rapid launches. He’s also known for making smart bets on purchasing components like flash memory, which helped make the 2005 iPod nano a success and today helps Apple limit the damage of the AI-driven RAM crisis.
He briefly took over as CEO at Apple in 2009 during one of Jobs’ medical leaves, and again in early 2011. He formally assumed the role in August 2011, when Jobs permanently resigned as his health deteriorated.
Cook has greatly expanded Apple since taking over: It now has a market capitalization of more than $4 trillion, or more than 1,000% of what it was in 2011. The iPhone remains its core product, but the company under Cook has introduced hits like AirPods, Apple Watch, and Macs based on Apple Silicon. It also makes a lot more revenue from services, including Apple Music and Apple TV.
There have been notable errors. A long-rumored car project never came to fruition. Vision Pro sales have been limited to a relatively small number of enthusiasts and professionals, and MacBooks between 2015 and 2020 were plagued by keyboard quality issues and slow performance from Intel-based chips. Apple Intelligence also received criticism when Apple promised features that simply weren’t ready, and won’t be until a Google Gemini-powered Siri arrives this year.
Who is John Ternus, the new CEO of Apple?
A hardware genius with deep roots at Apple
John Ternus is no stranger to Apple, having worked at the company for 25 years. He first worked on Apple displays, but in 2013 he became vice president of hardware engineering, helping lead work on AirPods, iPads, and Mac. He took control of iPhone development in 2020 and took over Apple Watch work in 2022, a year after becoming senior vice president.
Reports have circulated that Ternus was a likely candidate for the CEO position, both because of his focus on the product and his personality. He is “charismatic and loved.” according Bloomberg. That makes him a potentially ideal leader for a company that is still focused on hardware.
In announcing Cook’s transition, Apple notes that Ternus has pioneered the use of innovative materials, such as the 3D printed titanium in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and has advanced repairability and durability. If your iPhone or Mac lasts longer, you may have Ternus to thank.
His election makes Apple’s leadership strategy clear. He continues to pick veterans over outsiders, and doesn’t see the need for a shakeup anytime soon.
- bluetooth
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5.3
- IP Rating
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IP54
- Driver size
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Custom high excursion Apple driver
- Weight
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0.25 pounds
- charging port
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USB-C
- Compatibility
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Apple devices
The fourth-generation Apple AirPods feature a more comfortable design, an improved H2 chip, better sound quality, and the Active Noise Control option.
