AppleAnnounceIn a major high-level personnel arrangement, John Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, will officially take over the position of chief executive officer (CEO) on September 1, 2026 local time, and join the board of directors. Tim Cook, who has been in charge of Apple for 15 years, will officially step down as CEO and become Executive Chairman of Apple’s board of directors, symbolizing Apple’s official entry into the next generation.
On the occasion of parting, Cook was also affectionatePost a messagebid farewell:
Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title will change tomorrow, but my love for the Apple community will never. Thank you for your endless inspiration. I am grateful beyond words and look forward to the chapters ahead!
Cook’s 15-year glorious record: market value soared and territory doubled
Looking back at Cook’s performance since he joined Apple in 1998 and took over as CEO in 2011, Apple’s market value has climbed from about US$350 billion to US$4 trillion, an increase of more than 1,000%; annual revenue has surged from US$108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to more than US$416 billion in fiscal year 2025, an increase of nearly 4 times. Under his leadership, Apple’s global footprint has expanded significantly, especially in emerging markets. It currently covers more than 200 countries and regions around the world and operates more than 500 Apple Stores, doubling the global coverage of physical stores.
New helmsman John Ternus: the key driver of Apple’s hardware strength
John Ternus, who is about to take over, has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems before joining Apple. He has been promoted since joining Apple’s product design team in 2001, becoming vice president of hardware engineering in 2013, and joining the core executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of hardware engineering. During his tenure, he led the hardware engineering development of many breakthrough products in various categories of Apple, and has a profound technical and product heritage.
The new CEO’s first tough battle: iPhone 18 and Ultra foldable machines are about to be unveiled
John Ternus’ first big event in office is about to begin. Apple is expected to hold an autumn new product launch event at 10 a.m. Pacific time on September 9, 2026 (1 a.m. on September 10, Taiwan time). The theme of this event is “Surprise and shine.” It is expected that this first show, hosted by the new CEO, will unveil a new generation of iPhone 18 Pro series and the much-anticipated Ultra series of foldable phones to the world, kicking off a new chapter for Apple.
