TL;DR
Apple may soon have a new CEO as Tim Cook approaches retirement age. John Ternus, who leads hardware engineering at Apple, is now seen as the top choice to take over. He has worked on major Apple products for over 20 years. With COO Jeff Williams stepping down, Apple is slowly making leadership changes. Ternus is being given more public and internal responsibility, showing signs of a possible transition at the top.
Apple may soon see major leadership change
Apple is getting ready for one of its biggest leadership changes in more than 10 years. Reports suggest that John Ternus may become the next CEO. Ternus is currently Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Apple’s current CEO, Tim Cook, will turn 65 next month. He has not said when he plans to step down. However, several signs suggest the company is preparing for a change. A recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Ternus is now seen as the most likely candidate to lead Apple next.
Jeff Williams steps down from daily work
Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, was earlier seen as the natural choice to replace Cook. But he stepped back from daily operations in July. He will leave the company by the end of the year. With Williams leaving, focus has shifted to Ternus. Many believe he is now the top internal choice for the CEO role.
Ternus played key role in Apple’s top products
John Ternus joined Apple in 2001. He has worked on almost all major hardware products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods. He also led Apple’s shift from Intel chips to its own Apple Silicon. In 2021, he was promoted to Senior Vice President and joined Apple’s executive team. He has become more visible at Apple events and has presented new product launches, a task often handled by Tim Cook in the past.
Apple gives Ternus more visibility
Apple’s public relations team has recently put more focus on Ternus. He now takes part in major product announcements and also meets customers at stores during launches. Experts say this shows Apple may be preparing him for a larger role. Ternus studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also a competitive swimmer during college. Before joining Apple, he worked at a company that built early virtual reality devices.
Other senior leaders may also leave
Reports say other top Apple leaders may soon leave or change roles. These include John Giannandrea, who leads AI work, and hardware chief Johny Srouji. Environmental head Lisa Jackson is also considering retirement. Tim Cook has said he will “always want to work,” but has not given a timeline for leaving. Some experts believe he may take on the role of chairman in the future.
FAQs
- Who is John Ternus?
He is Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and is seen as the next CEO. - Why is Apple preparing for a CEO change?
Tim Cook is nearing retirement age, and COO Jeff Williams is leaving. Ternus is being given more leadership duties. - What are John Ternus’s key contributions at Apple?
He has worked on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and helped shift to Apple Silicon chips.
