Tim Cook will step down as Apple's CEO on Tuesday, September 1, and ahead of that date, Apple hosted a farewell party for him. According to The Information, the party took place on August 23, just a day before Cook celebrated his 15th anniversary as Apple CEO.
Approximately 200 people celebrated Cook at the Caffé Macs cafeteria on the Apple campus, and band OneRepublic performed. Several speakers shared tributes to Cook, including Steve Jobs' wife Laurene Powell Jobs, former Apple COO Jeff Williams, Apple services chief Eddy Cue, and incoming CEO John Ternus.
.@OneRepublic at Apple Park Cupertino HQ with outgoing Apple CEO @tim_cook 📷 Brody Harper pic.twitter.com/LSqtAidmBJ — OneRepublic News (@1RNews) August 24, 2026
Cook is not leaving Apple, despite the party. Next Tuesday, he will become Apple's executive chairman, where he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world." Cook will spend less time in the spotlight in his new role.
Ternus has been at Apple since 2001, serving as senior vice president of hardware engineering since 2021. Apple's September iPhone event will be his first major product launch as CEO.
Insiders at Apple told The Information that continuity is the focus of the transition from Cook to Ternus, with few things to change. Cook's executive assistant will stay on and work for Ternus.
