Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO, but he is not leaving the company: Here is what he will do next
Follow UsTim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO, but he is not leaving the company yet.
After leading Apple for more than 15 years, Cook will hand over the CEO role to John Ternus on September 1, 2026.
Cook has reportedly told Ternus that he will keep managing the company’s relationships with President Donald Trump and the Chinese government.
Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO, but he is not leaving the company yet. After leading Apple for more than 15 years, Cook will hand over the CEO role to John Ternus on September 1, 2026. However, he will continue to play an important role at the company as executive chairman of Apple’s board. The move means Cook will no longer handle Apple’s daily operations, but he will remain involved in key areas. He is expected to continue working with governments, policymakers and regulators around the world.
SurveyWhat will Tim Cook do as executive chairman?
As executive chairman, Cook will continue to represent Apple in important matters outside the company. A major part of his role will involve working with governments, policymakers and regulators across different countries. Cook has built strong relationships with officials and industry leaders during his time as CEO. Apple will continue to benefit from these connections.
However, Cook will no longer be responsible for Apple’s day-to-day business. That responsibility will move to John Ternus, who will become the company’s new CEO on September 1.
Also read: Tim Cook’s last day as Apple CEO: His 5 decisions that made the company what it is today
Ternus will take charge of Apple’s daily operations and lead the company into its next chapter. He has played a major role in Apple’s hardware development and has been closely associated with several of the company’s recent product launches.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Cook has told Ternus that he will keep managing the company’s relationships with President Donald Trump and the Chinese government.
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For Cook, the change marks the end of his tenure as Apple CEO, but not the end of his relationship with the company. He has described leading Apple as the greatest privilege of his career and thanked the team he worked with during his time as CEO.
