As Apple nears its significant 50th anniversary in 2026, the company is reportedly preparing for more than just a major refresh of its devices; a substantial leadership change may also be imminent. A recent report indicates that CEO Tim Cook, who recently turned 65, is contemplating stepping down as soon as next year. At the forefront of Apple’s internal list for his successor is John Ternus, the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Although Apple has not made any official announcement concerning Cook’s future, sources indicate that the company has intensified its succession planning behind the scenes. Ternus has surfaced as the leading candidate, with his name increasingly appearing in discussions about the long-term leadership of the company.
His gradual ascent within Apple and the company’s growing focus on hardware innovation position him well to assume the top role if Cook vacates it. Tim Cook’s Legacy Since taking over the CEO position in 2011 after Steve Jobs’ departure, Cook has transformed Apple into a $4 trillion technology powerhouse, extending its reach beyond devices into a global ecosystem encompassing services, wearables, and subscriptions. Under his guidance, the iPhone has undergone significant design transformations, the Mac has completely transitioned to Apple Silicon, and new product categories have been launched.
Although Cook has suggested he is not immediately stepping down—once humorously stating that remaining until 2050 might be “a bit of a stretch”—he has consistently highlighted Apple’s serious approach to succession planning. Earlier this year on Dua Lipa’s At Your Service podcast, he noted that Apple always prepares multiple internal leaders for seamless transitions, acknowledging that “unforeseen events can happen at any time.” He has also made it clear that the next CEO will be an internal appointment rather than an external hire. Who Is John Ternus? John Ternus is a well-established figure within Apple’s leadership team. He began his career with the company in 2001, coinciding with the iPod’s emergence as a game-changer for Apple.
Over 24 years, Ternus has collaborated closely with both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, steadily advancing through the engineering ranks before overseeing hardware engineering for major product lines such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. He played a pivotal role in Apple’s transition to custom silicon, recognized as one of the company’s most daring and successful technological initiatives in recent years. Colleagues describe Ternus as soft-spoken, disciplined, and highly focused on execution. His methodical and discreet approach aligns with Apple’s internal culture, contrasting with the more publicly prominent styles of Jobs and Cook. Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as an engineer at Virtual Research Inc.
from 1997 to 2001 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. What a Ternus Era Could Mean If Ternus assumes the CEO position at age 50, it would signify a generational shift at Apple, placing an engineer at the helm during a time when the company is aggressively advancing into AI, spatial computing, and next-gen hardware. Apple is also expanding the Vision Pro platform, enhancing its development of AR devices, and continuing to speculate on long-term initiatives like the Apple Car. Currently, any discussions regarding a leadership transition remain hypothetical, as neither Cook nor Ternus has commented on the reports, and Apple has not released a statement.
However, with Apple entering a new chapter of innovation, the likelihood of a leadership change as early as next year is becoming increasingly plausible.