Apple said on Monday it has appointed long-time executive John Ternus as its next chief executive officer, handing leadership to the company’s top hardware executive as it prepares for major shifts in the technology industry driven by artificial intelligence.
Ternus will assume the role on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook, who has led the iPhone maker since 2011 and will transition to executive chairman, the company said.
The leadership change marks the end of an era at one of the world’s most influential technology companies, as rivals increasingly push AI-focused products aimed at challenging Apple’s dominance in consumer electronics.
Ternus, 50, joined Apple in 2001 and has spent more than two decades working on the company’s core hardware products. He became vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and joined Apple’s executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of hardware engineering, reporting directly to Cook.
In that role, Ternus oversaw development teams behind the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods. He has also been closely involved in Apple’s transition to in-house silicon, a shift that has helped revive Mac sales and increase market share in recent years.
Last year, Ternus presented the company’s redesigned iPhone Air, the most significant update to the device line since 2017, as Apple sought to reinvigorate demand in a maturing smartphone market.
Apple said Ternus will also join its board of directors effective September 1. He is the same age Cook was when he became CEO following the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Apple did not announce further management changes.
