Financial Times reports that Tim Cook might resign from his role as CEO of Apple as soon as next year. Consequently, Apple’s succession strategy is actively progressing as the company considers potential candidates for the CEO role.
The leading candidate for the top position at Apple is said to be John Ternus, who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Ternus, a long-serving Apple professional, joined the esteemed Product Design team at Apple in 2001. Throughout his time at Apple, Ternus has played a significant role in supervising hardware engineering for multiple product lines, such as the iPad, iPhone, and AirPods. Ternus’ profile on Apple’s leadership page highlights that he was a “key leader in the ongoing transition of the Mac to Apple silicon.” Interestingly, before taking on the role of CEO at Apple, Cook was pivotal in the transition of the Mac from PowerPC processors to Intel chips.
That being said, a conclusive decision regarding Tim Cook’s successor has not yet been reached. The report mentions that an announcement could be forthcoming in early 2026, as this would allow enough time for Cook’s successor to arrange everything before WWDC in June and the crucial iPhone launch in September.
