The end of one of the finest eras for Apple has finally come as Tim Cook has stepped down as Apple CEO, effective August 31, 2026. Taking over the CEO responsibilities starting September 1, 2026, will be John Ternus, another Apple veteran who will lead the Cupertino giant into its next chapter.
Tim Cook Steps Down, Becomes Executive Chairman
After the initial announcement from Tim Cook back in April 2026, he has now stepped down as CEO at Apple. However, he is not departing entirely but transitioning to the Executive Chairman position.
Cook will focus on personal pursuits such as hiking, which Apple will accommodate by seeking a Global Security Senior Manager for executive protection. This could mean that Ternus may take the stage at the upcoming Apple event scheduled for September 9, 2026.
Tim Cook leaves behind massive shoes to fill. He has spearheaded Apple since the iPhone 5 days, driving Apple's valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion, making it one of the biggest tech giants on the planet.
Ternus, on the other hand, has been with Apple since 2001 and has primarily worked with Apple's design and hardware teams. However, all eyes will be on him as his tenure as CEO comes at a difficult time, when the industry has been hit with a massive RAM crisis.
Besides, Ternus will also have to shoulder the responsibility of getting Apple through fierce competition in China and spearheading the firm in the AI race, in which the brand is quite far behind.
All eyes will be on Ternus as he potentially takes the stage for the first time at Apple's Surprise and Shine event on September 9, 2026, announcing the iPhone Fold, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and a slew of other next-gen hardware.
More information about Apple's upcoming iPhones and other products should be revealed as we inch closer to launch, so stay tuned.
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