April 21, (THEWILL) — Apple Inc. announced on Monday, April 20, 2026, that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive officer in September.
He will be replaced by longtime Apple employee, John Ternus.
Cook, 65, will become executive chairman of the board after the transition. He will remain CEO until September 1, 2026, and work closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple”, Cook said. He added that Ternus is “the right person to lead Apple into the future.”
Ternus, who is currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, joined Apple in 2001. He has worked on major products including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity”, Ternus said.
Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011, succeeding co-founder Steve Jobs. During his tenure, Apple grew into one of the world’s most valuable companies and expanded its products and services.
Apple said the leadership change is part of a long-term succession plan approved by its board.
Board chairman Arthur Levinson praised Cook’s leadership, saying it helped transform Apple into one of the world’s leading companies.
Levinson will become the lead independent director after the transition.
The change comes as Apple marks its 50th anniversary and faces increasing competition, especially in artificial intelligence.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
