---
title: "Apple announces Tim Cook will step down as CEO in September, with John Ternus taking over"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/283432718.md"
description: "Apple Inc. announced that current CEO Tim Cook will step down on September 1, 2026, to become the executive chairman of the board, with Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus succeeding him as CEO. Cook stated that leading Apple has been the honor of his life and believes Ternus is the right person to lead the company into the future. Ternus has committed to leading the company with Apple's core values, and during the transition period, Cook will continue to serve to ensure a smooth handover. This personnel change has been unanimously approved by the board of directors and is seen as the result of long-term succession planning"
datetime: "2026-04-21T03:25:36.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/283432718.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/283432718.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/283432718.md)
---

# Apple announces Tim Cook will step down as CEO in September, with John Ternus taking over

PingWest reported on April 21 that Apple Inc. officially announced today that current CEO Tim Cook will step down on September 1, 2026, and will become the executive chairman of the board. Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will take over as CEO on the same day and join the board.

In a statement, Cook expressed that leading Apple has been the greatest honor of his life. He described Ternus as having "the mindset of an engineer and the soul of an innovator," and as the right person to lead the company into the future. Ternus stated that he is fortunate to have worked with Steve Jobs and received guidance from Cook, promising to lead the company with the values that have defined Apple for half a century.

During the transition period, Cook will continue to serve in his role over the summer to ensure a smooth transition and will assist the company in communicating with global policymakers. This personnel change has been unanimously approved by the board and is seen as the result of long-term succession planning.

### Related Stocks

- [AAPB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPB.US.md)
- [AAPU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPU.US.md)
- [AAPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPX.US.md)
- [AAPD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPD.US.md)
- [AAPY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPY.US.md)
- [APLY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APLY.US.md)
- [AAPL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPL.US.md)

## Related News & Research

- [Why Apple stock could soar with John Ternus at the helm](https://longbridge.com/en/news/283552743.md)
- [Apple Has Unusual Put Options Activity - Has AAPL Stock Peaked Ahead of Earnings?](https://longbridge.com/en/news/283386749.md)
- [INSTANT VIEW-Apple CEO Cook is lauded by investors as he prepares for new role](https://longbridge.com/en/news/283403849.md)
- [Apple Pulled Cal AI for Deceptive Billing Design, Not External Payments](https://longbridge.com/en/news/283550760.md)
- [Austin Private Wealth LLC Has $17.75 Million Stock Holdings in Apple Inc. $AAPL](https://longbridge.com/en/news/283454506.md)