Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO Tomorrow - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO Tomorrow

The end of an era is upon us, as Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO on September 1, after 15 years of leading the company.

Tim Cook Apple LogoCook has been Apple's CEO since 2011

Tomorrow, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO. Cook will remain at Apple as the executive chairman of the company's board of directors. In this new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company, including "engaging with policymakers around the world."

Cook became Apple's CEO in August 2011, after Steve Jobs stepped down due to health problems. Under his leadership, Apple became the world's most valuable company on multiple occasions, and it launched products and services such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Vision Pro, Apple Music, Apple TV, and much more.


Apple has set all-time quarterly revenue records over its past few quarters, so the company is in a strong financial position as Cook hands the reins to Ternus.

"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," said Cook. "I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world."

tim cook john ternus apple ceoTernus (left) and Cook (right)

"John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor," said Cook. "He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future."

"I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us," said Ternus.

Popular Stories

iPhone Ultra Fold Feature

Foldable iPhone Development History and Price Revealed in New Report

Tuesday September 8, 2026 5:55 am PDT by
Former Apple CEO Tim Cook played a major role in the development of the foldable iPhone, which could reach around $3,000 with storage upgrades, according to new details shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Early in the development of the foldable iPhone, the company reportedly targeted a starting retail price of $1,999, hoping to come under the "potentially controversial $2,000 barrier." The...
tim cook john ternus apple ceo

Tim Cook Comments on His Final Day as Apple CEO

Monday August 31, 2026 8:39 am PDT by
Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO on September 1, with the company's hardware engineering John Ternus set to take over. With the transition set to take place tomorrow, there have been quite a few headlines about Cook lately. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The latest story comes from 9to5Mac, which said it has obtained Cook's full memo to Apple...
John Ternus CEO 16x9 1

John Ternus is Now Apple's CEO

Tuesday September 1, 2026 7:23 am PDT by
Apple's former hardware engineering chief John Ternus officially became CEO of the company today, with the change now reflected on Apple's leadership page. Ternus joined Apple in 2001, became a vice president of hardware engineering in 2013, and became senior vice president of hardware engineering in 2021. He is 51, so he could serve as CEO for 10 to 15 years before reaching typical...

Top Rated Comments

paulvee Avatar
1 week ago
I hear he's going to pardon Jony Ive today.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
1 week ago
Hopefully his step-down will be an overall step-up for Apple.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Plutonius Avatar
1 week ago
How long before we hear complaints about the new CEO and comments like "Tim Cook wouldn't have done that" :).
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 week ago
Thank God! 🙏

Good riddance!
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 week ago

How long before we hear complaints about the new CEO and comments like "Tim Cook wouldn't have done that" :).
Wednesday?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 week ago
Like someone told me years ago: “it’s been real, it’s been fun, but it hasn’t been real fun.”
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)