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‘Legend’: Sam Altman and other leaders react as Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO

HIGHLIGHTS

After leading Apple for nearly 15 years, Tim Cook will step down as CEO later this year.

The next CEO will be John Ternus, a long-time Apple leader with over 20 years at the company.

'Tim Cook is a legend,' OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X.

‘Legend’: Sam Altman and other leaders react as Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO
Ayushi Jain Ayushi Jain
21-Apr-2026

After leading Apple for nearly 15 years, Tim Cook will step down as CEO later this year. His tenure marks a major era in the company’s journey, during which Apple became one of the most valuable companies in the world. Cook will move into the role of executive chairman, where he will continue to be involved in key decisions, including strategy and policy matters. He described this shift as a transition rather than a departure.

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Cook took over as CEO in 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs during a crucial time. Under his leadership, Apple expanded its product ecosystem, strengthening key areas such as the iPhone, Apple Watch and its services business. 

Also read: ⁠Tim Cook steps down: Full text of his memo to Apple employees

The next CEO will be John Ternus, a long-time Apple leader with over 20 years at the company. He currently heads hardware engineering. Showing confidence in Ternus, Cook said, ‘He (John Ternus) 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 could not be more confident in his abilities and his character.’

How tech leaders reacted to Tim Cook stepping down

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was among the first to react to the announcement. He posted on X, ‘Tim Cook is a legend.’ ‘I am very thankful for everything he has done and I am very thankful for Apple.’

Ayushi Jain

Ayushi Jain

Ayushi works as Chief Copy Editor at Digit, covering everything from breaking tech news to in-depth smartphone reviews. Prior to Digit, she was part of the editorial team at IANS. View Full Profile