John Ternus succeeds Tim Cook as Apple CEO, Cook becomes Executive Chairman

Apple Inc. has officially transitioned its leadership, with John Ternus taking over as Chief Executive Officer. Former CEO Tim Cook will now serve as Executive Chairman of the company's board of directors. The succession plan was announced in April and the transition took effect on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with widespread reporting on September 2, 2026. Ternus, who previously led Apple's hardware engineering, faces challenges including balancing the company's dependence on China and advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities.