Tim Cook, a close friend of Jobs, is stepping down in September, leaving behind a team of executives bridging the gap between two eras.
Apple is about to undergo a significant transition. This September, CEO Tim Cook will step down and be succeeded by John Ternus, the current head of hardware. The change signifies more than a new CEO — it marks a transition into an era where Apple’s executives were not selected by Steve Jobs.
With Cook’s departure, the number of leaders from Jobs’ inner circle is diminishing. Eddy Cue, the senior vice president of services, remains from the old guard, having joined in 1989 and often describing Jobs as family. Phil Schiller, who collaborated on major launches such as the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, still oversees the App Store despite taking a reduced role in 2020.
Key members also include Greg Joswiak and Craig Federighi. Joswiak, who began at Apple in 1986, has been instrumental in launching the original iPod and iPhone and took over as head of marketing in 2020. Federighi, Apple’s software lead, previously worked with Jobs at NeXT and returned to Apple in 2009.
Many prominent figures from the Jobs era have left. Scott Forstall, a potential successor to Jobs, was ousted a year after Cook took over due to the problematic Apple Maps launch.
Bob Mansfield, a pivotal member of Jobs’ team, finally retired in 2020 after contributing to projects including the Mac’s transition to Intel processors and the Apple Watch. Another of Jobs’ recruits, Doug Field, left Apple for Tesla in 2013, rejoined in 2018, and moved to Ford in 2021.
Dan Riccio, described as a key figure in hardware engineering, retired in 2024. Jeff Williams, former COO, known for bringing Jobs’ vision for the iPhone’s glass screen to life, departed last year.
One of the most noteworthy exits was Jony Ive, a revered designer and close friend of Jobs, who left Apple in 2019.
Nevertheless, ties to the Jobs era persist within the new leadership. Ternus joined Apple in 2001, rising to vice president of hardware engineering and overseeing post-Jobs products such as AirPods and the iPhone Air. Newly appointed chief hardware officer Johny Srouji and COO Sabih Khan, who joined Apple in 1995, embody connections to prior eras.
Yet, after 15 years, Cook’s influence dominates the leadership team he built. Some who were part of the company’s ascent remain, but the Jobs-era executives’ time is fading.
New leaders are now tasked with leaving their own mark on Apple. Cook and his team transformed Apple into a $4 trillion entity. As Cook hands over leadership to Ternus, significant decisions lie ahead for Apple’s future.