Jakarta, ThedailyID — Apple has named John Ternus as its next chief executive officer, marking the biggest leadership change at the company in nearly 15 years.
Ternus will take over on Sept. 1, 2026, while Tim Cook will move into the role of executive chairman after leading Apple since 2011.
The transition puts one of Apple’s top hardware engineers in charge as the company faces pressure to accelerate innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence.
Ternus, 50, joined Apple in 2001 and helped shape many of the company’s biggest products, including the iPhone, iPad, AirPods and Apple Watch. More recently, he led hardware development for the revamped iPhone lineup and Apple’s ultrathin iPhone Air.
Cook called Ternus “a visionary” with “the mind of an engineer and the soul of an innovator,” according to Apple’s April 20 announcement.
The appointment signals continuity, but analysts also see a strategic shift. Unlike Cook, whose legacy centered on scale and services growth, Ternus built his reputation on product engineering.
During Cook’s tenure, Apple’s market value rose from roughly $350 billion to more than $4 trillion. The company also expanded its services business and launched products including the Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro.
Still, Apple has faced mounting scrutiny over its AI strategy as rivals race ahead. That makes Ternus’ leadership closely watched from day one.
“This is the start of a new era at Apple,” analysts told Reuters, pointing to investor expectations that the company’s next chapter may focus more aggressively on hardware-AI integration. Ternus will also join Apple’s board when he assumes the CEO role.
Overall, the move marks one of the most significant transitions in Apple’s modern history, with a longtime iPhone engineer now set to steer the tech giant’s next phase.
