Apple names John Ternus to succeed Tim Cook as CEO

Cook would become executive chairman under the board-approved plan.

Capvise MediaEvent 20 Apr 2026Published 15 Oct 20261 min read

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An announced succession

Apple announced on 20 April that hardware engineering chief John Ternus would become chief executive on 1 September. Tim Cook would remain CEO through the summer before becoming executive chairman. The company said its board had unanimously approved the transition, describing it as the result of long-term succession planning.

The plan also put Ternus on Apple’s board and moved Arthur Levinson from non-executive chairman to lead independent director on the same September date. Cook’s future role included engagement with policymakers. These arrangements separate operating leadership from board leadership; the announcement did not describe Cook leaving Apple altogether. The April dateline records when the succession was disclosed, rather than when the new role was due to begin.