---
title: "Apple (AAPL) Engineering Chief John Ternus Is Frontrunner to Succeed Tim Cook as CEO"
description: "Apple's hardware engineering chief, John Ternus, is the leading candidate to succeed CEO Tim Cook, who may retire by the end of 2026. Ternus, 50, has been with Apple since 2001 and is known for his co"
type: "news"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/271976287.md"
published_at: "2026-01-08T19:14:40.000Z"
---

# Apple (AAPL) Engineering Chief John Ternus Is Frontrunner to Succeed Tim Cook as CEO

> Apple's hardware engineering chief, John Ternus, is the leading candidate to succeed CEO Tim Cook, who may retire by the end of 2026. Ternus, 50, has been with Apple since 2001 and is known for his collaborative management style. Other potential candidates include Craig Federighi, Eddy Cue, and Deirdre O'Brien. Currently, Apple stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating from analysts, with an average price target of $299.49, indicating a potential upside of 16.50%.

Apple's (AAPL) hardware engineering chief John Ternus has emerged as the leading candidate to replace CEO Tim Cook when he retires.

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According to a report in *The New York Times* (NYT), Ternus is the frontrunner to helm Apple, one of the world's most valuable technology companies, as Cook, age 65, prepares to stepdown as CEO of the iPhone maker.

A retirement date has not been announced by Cook, but there are rumors he plans to stepdown as CEO by the end of 2026. Apple has reported stepped up its internal search for a new chief executive. Cook is said to be exhausted after more than a decade leading Apple and wants to transition into the role of chairman of the company's board.

## **Succession Drama at Apple**

The rise of Ternus, age 50, signals a desire within Apple for an insider to become CEO, and continuity at the consumer electronics manufacturer. According to *The New York Times* report, Ternus has a management style similar to Cook's in that he is even-tempered, collaborative, and knowledgeable about Apple's global supply chain.

Ternus has worked at Apple since 2001 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. His ascent highlights a career defined by fiscal discipline and innovation. However, Ternus is not the only Apple executive being considered for the CEO role. Other candidates include Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software; Eddy Cue, head of services; and Deirdre O'Brien, head of human resources.

## **Is AAPL Stock a Buy?**

The stock of Apple has a consensus Moderate Buy rating among 32 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 19 Buy, 11 Hold, and two Sell recommendations issued in the last three months. The average AAPL price target of $299.49 implies 16.50% upside from current levels.

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> **Disclaimer**: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.