Who is John Ternus? Everything you should know about new Apple CEO
Follow UsApple has officially announced a major leadership change.
Tim Cook will step into a new role as executive chairman of its board, while John Ternus will become the next CEO starting September 1, 2026.
Cook will continue as CEO through the summer months, working closely with Ternus to hand over responsibilities.
Apple has officially announced a major leadership change. The company revealed that Tim Cook will step into a new role as executive chairman of its board, while John Ternus will become the next CEO starting September 1, 2026. Cook will continue as CEO through the summer months, working closely with Ternus to hand over responsibilities. Even after the transition, Cook will remain actively involved in guiding the company, especially in dealing with global policymakers.
Survey‘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. ‘John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour. 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.’
Who is John Ternus?
John Ternus is a long-time Apple executive who has spent over two decades helping shape the company’s hardware products. He joined Apple in 2001 as part of the product design team. In 2013, he became a vice president of Hardware Engineering. In 2021, he was promoted to senior vice president, joining Apple’s executive leadership team.
Over the years, Ternus has played a key role in developing many of Apple’s most important devices. His work has contributed to products across all major categories, including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. He has been closely involved in launching new product lines and improving existing ones, helping Apple stay competitive and innovative.
Ternus has also been central to strengthening the Mac lineup, making it more powerful and popular worldwide. Under his leadership, Apple introduced new devices like the MacBook Neo and redefined iPhone lineup. His team also pushed forward improvements in AirPods, adding features like better noise cancellation and hearing support functions.
Beyond performance, Ternus has focused heavily on durability and reliability. He has played a key role in advancing Apple’s materials and hardware design to lower the environmental impact of its products. This includes creating a new recycled aluminum compound now used across several product lines, introducing 3D-printed titanium in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and improving repairability to extend the lifespan of many Apple devices.
Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
