Apple has announced a historic leadership transition, naming John Ternus as its next Chief Executive Officer to succeed Tim Cook.

The move, effective September 1, marks the end of an era for the tech giant as it navigates a shifting landscape dominated by artificial intelligence.

Tim Cook, 65, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman after a 15-year tenure as CEO.

Since taking the helm from co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011, Cook presided over Apple's meteoric rise to become the world’s first USD 4 trillion company.

Under his leadership, Apple expanded its dominance in the global smartphone market and reached unprecedented financial milestones.

In a statement, Cook described his leadership role as the “greatest privilege” of his life, expressing gratitude for his colleagues whom he described as “ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring.”

His successor, 50-year-old John Ternus, is a seasoned Apple veteran with over two decades at the company.

Currently the head of hardware engineering, Ternus has been instrumental in the development of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

He is widely viewed as a steady hand capable of maintaining Apple’s hardware excellence while addressing new challenges.

Ternus stated he was “profoundly grateful” for the chance to lead the company and continue its core mission.

The reshuffle also sees Arthur Levinson stepping down as non-executive chairman, though he will retain his seat on the board of directors.

This transition comes at a pivotal time for the Cupertino-based company.

While Apple remains a financial powerhouse, it has faced scrutiny for trailing competitors like Nvidia in the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.

Industry analysts suggest that Ternus will be tasked with accelerating Apple’s AI strategy and reducing its reliance on external partnerships to power key services like Siri.

The handover represents a carefully planned internal succession, aimed at providing stability as the world’s most valuable tech company prepares for its next chapter in a hardware-plus-AI future.

Source: AP