Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook steps down after nearly 15 years in the role, and John Ternus, previously Apple’s senior vice-president of Hardware Engineering, takes over as CEO. Cook transitions to executive chairman of Apple’s board on September 1, 2026, shifting day-to-day leadership to Ternus.
Cook became CEO shortly before Steve Jobs died in 2011, following Jobs’ announcement of leadership succession. During Cook’s tenure, outlets describe major operational changes, including efforts to improve Apple’s supply chain and manufacturing and reduce costs and inventory. They also credit Cook’s leadership with expanding Apple’s product portfolio and growth in services.
Different sources emphasize different aspects of Cook’s impact. One outlet highlights business-wide outcomes such as revenue and profit growing over his first decade and Apple becoming a trillion-dollar company by 2018, with later market valuation reported near USD 4.01 trillion by 2026. Another focuses on headline “successes,” citing Apple’s market capitalization growth from about USD 347 billion to roughly USD 4.6 trillion. The reporting also covers Cook’s estimated net worth, with figures varying by outlet, generally placing it in the billions rather than at founder-level ownership.
