Tim Cook To Step Down As Apple CEO After Nearly 15 Years

By Danial Martinus • 21 Apr 2026 in News

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Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO of Apple, one of the world’s most valuable companies, nearly 15 years after taking the helm from the late Steve Jobs.

Taking Cook’s place on 1 September 2026 is Apple’s head of hardware engineering, John Ternus.

Many things we’ve come to love (and take for granted) under Cook’s purview

It’s hard to truly encompass how long 15 years is when we look at the devices that Apple has released during Cook’s time as CEO.

Things like the Apple Watch and AirPods both entered the market when Tim Cook headed the company. They might seem like minute innovations in the grand scheme of things, but the two devices are so epynomous with their respective categories that it’s hard to imagine a world without them.

While Cook had his critics, with many Apple fans of old calling him incapable of living up to the iconic legacy of Steve Jobs, he managed to carve out his own space, earning the respect of diverse demographics that once considered the Apple brand a stranger in their daily lives.

John Ternus (L) and Tim Cook (R). (source: Apple)

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a letter on the Apple website.

“I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”

50-year-old Ternus is no stranger to the way things work at Apple, having been with the company since 2001. He also played a key role in the launch of iPad and AirPods.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said.

“Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another.”