Apple CEO Tim Cook Resigns

Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as chief executive and will be replaced by longtime Apple hardware leader John Ternus, who becomes CEO and joins the board on September 1st, 2026. Cook, CEO since 2011, moves into a new role as executive chairman, where he’ll still help guide Apple and liaise with policymakers worldwide.

The article highlights Cook’s legacy: under his leadership Apple launched major products and services like Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, iCloud, and Apple Pay, and grew services into a business worth more than $100 billion annually. He’ll stay on through the summer to oversee a “smooth transition” with Ternus.

John Ternus has been at Apple since 2001, rising from the product design team to SVP of hardware engineering. Apple credits him with being “instrumental” in products like iPad and AirPods and in many generations of iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. In his statement, he calls the new role a privilege, says he learned under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, and promises to lead with Apple’s existing values and vision.

It looks like a cautious, continuity-focused succession rather than a radical shakeup. Apple is elevating John Ternus, a long‑time insider who has already been central to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch hardware.

Alongside the CEO change, Apple is elevating Johny Srouji to the new role of chief hardware officer. He will oversee both hardware technologies and the broader hardware engineering organization that Ternus previously led. Ternus has told staff he plans to remain very hands-on and has appointed Tom Marieb, formerly VP of product integrity, to run hardware engineering under Srouji and execute Apple’s hardware roadmap.

The Verge page also links to related coverage about Ternus’ promotion, Cook’s departure letter, Srouji’s new role, and other top tech stories, while surrounding the article with site-wide navigation, privacy settings, and cookie/consent controls typical of a large media site.