Tim Cook steps down as Apple’s chief executive after 15 years, sending employees a final internal memo as he prepares for his last day in the role. In the message, Cook says he is not leaving Apple and frames the transition as a move away from the CEO job rather than an exit from the company. He emphasizes gratitude to employees and credits Apple’s culture and teams for the company’s accomplishments.
Cook also outlines what he says has made Apple special, including a shared sense of purpose and the belief that what Apple builds matters. Multiple outlets note he invokes Steve Jobs’s legacy, including the idea of leaving a “dent in the universe.” Several reports add that Cook explicitly praises John Ternus and expresses optimism about what leadership can achieve next, pointing to Ternus’s engineering background and responsibility for product and operational execution.
As part of the succession, John Ternus becomes CEO effective September 1. Apple simultaneously names Cook executive chairman, with Cook expected to remain involved in select areas, including engagement with policymakers and governments worldwide. Coverage largely agrees on the timing and roles, while some outlets provide additional background on Ternus’s rise within Apple and reiterate that Cook continues at the company after the handover.
