Meet Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus

Apple has named John Ternus as its next chief executive officer, elevating the long-time hardware engineering leader to guide the company into its next phase of growth.

Ternus will take over on September 1, 2026, replacing Tim Cook, who will become executive chairman of Apple’s board. The company said the transition was approved unanimously after a planned succession process. Cook will remain CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth handover.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said. He added that he had spent most of his career at Apple and would continue to build on its values and vision.

Ternus is not a newcomer to Apple’s core products. He joined the company in 2001 and rose through its hardware engineering ranks over more than two decades. He became vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and joined Apple’s executive team in 2021.

His work has touched nearly every major Apple product line. He has overseen hardware development for iPhone, Mac, iPad and AirPods. Apple credited him with helping shape multiple generations of devices across those categories.

Under his leadership, Apple’s Mac line gained stronger performance and broader global appeal. He also helped guide AirPods into becoming a major product category, alongside continued expansion of the iPad ecosystem.

He most recently led the introduction of the MacBook Neo, Apple’s first low-cost MacBook, last month.

Ternus played a central role in new product launches, including refreshed iPhone models and upgrades to AirPods health and audio features. Apple also highlighted his focus on durability, materials engineering and repairability improvements.

He has been closely involved in Apple’s shift toward in-house silicon design, a move that improved performance and energy efficiency across devices. The company also noted his work on sustainability initiatives, including recycled materials used in multiple product lines.

Before Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ternus now steps into the CEO role at a time when Apple is balancing mature product lines with pressure to accelerate innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence and spatial computing.