Apple names new chief executive to replace Tim Cook

Source: BBC Technology

John Ternus will become Apple’s chief executive in September, succeeding Tim Cook, who will move to the role of executive chairman.

Appointment details

• Effective date: 1 September 2024
• Current role: Head of hardware engineering, Apple (25 years at the company)
• Tim Cook’s transition: Will remain CEO through the summer to work with Ternus on the handover, then focus on “engaging with policymakers around the world” as executive chairman.

Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, described the CEO role as “the greatest privilege of my life.” Under his leadership Apple grew from a $1 trillion valuation in 2018 to a $4 trillion company today.

Cook praised Ternus as a “visionary” executive with “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator and the heart to lead with integrity and honour,” adding that he is “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”

John Ternus background

• Product involvement: Worked on every major Apple product released over the past 25 years, including all iPad generations, many iPhone generations, the launch of AirPods and the Apple Watch.
• Hardware milestones: Oversaw the transition of Mac computers to Apple‑designed silicon.
• Legacy: Served under Steve Jobs before Jobs’ 2011 resignation and subsequent passing. Ternus has referred to Cook as his “mentor.”

In a statement, Ternus expressed optimism: “I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come.”

Reactions and analysis

• Industry perspective:

  • Dipanjan Chatterjee, principal analyst at Forrester, noted Cook’s financial stability but warned that Apple remains “structurally dependent on the phone” and needs a new growth engine. He said the new leader must “resist the temptation of incrementalism that has plagued Apple of late and escape the iPhone’s gravitational pull.”
  • Gil Luria, managing director at DA Davidson & Co, suggested a hardware‑focused CEO signals a push toward new products such as foldable phones and wearable devices like eye‑glasses.

• Product line considerations: While Apple’s profit quadrupled under Cook, its product lineup has been described as “largely static.” Naming a leader with deep hardware expertise may address criticism that Apple has lagged in innovation during Cook’s tenure.

For more context on Apple’s product strategy, see the related article on the product line.