Apple Leadership Transition: Tim Cook Steps Down as CEO

By  Published Apr 20, 2026, 5:11 PM EDT Matthew Rudoy is one of ScreenRant's Movie & TV News Editors. He covers the latest in movie & TV news, with a focus on major franchises like Star Wars, The Boys, and Game of Thrones, and also writes some features and reviews. He wrote lists for ScreenRant from 2017-2026, became a news writer in 2026, a senior staff writer in 2026, and an editor in 2026.  Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

After nearly 15 years in the role, CEO Tim Cook is officially stepping down.

Cook stepped into the position of Apple CEO fifteen years ago in 2011 following the resignation of Steve Jobs. During Cook's tenure in his leadership role, the company has gone through many shifts and new developments, including the launch of the Apple TV+ streaming service in 2019, which was .

Apple announced today that Cook will be transitioning into a new role for the company as the executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. Meanwhile, John Ternus, the current senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will be the new CEO starting September 1, 2026. The transition received unanimous approval from Apple's board of directors, and Cook will remain CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth transition for Ternus. Read Cook and Ternus' statements about the transition below:

Tim Cook: It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world. John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.

John Ternus: I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward. Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.

Additionally, Arthur Levinson, the non-executive chairman of Apple for the last 15 years, will become the lead independent director on September 1. This same date will also see Ternus officially joining the board of directors. Levinson shared a statement about these changes, while Cook spoke about Levinson's contributions to the company.

Arthur Levinson: Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does. On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.

Tim Cook: I want to thank Art for the incredible work he has done leading the board of directors for the past 15 years. I have always found his advice to be invaluable and I appreciate his thoughtfulness and his unwavering dedication to the company. I am grateful he will serve as our lead independent director, and I look forward to working with him in my new role.

Cook's new position comes after 28 years of working at Apple, as he joined the company in 1998. In addition to the creation and launch of Apple TV, his time as CEO has included the introduction of the iCloud, Apple Pay, , Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. On the financial side, Apple's market capitalization grew from about $350 billion to $4 trillion, which is a staggering 1,000% increase. Yearly revenue has become roughly four times higher, going from $108 billion in 2011 to $416 billion in 2026.

On a global scale, Cook has broadened Apple's reach, with it now being in more than 200 countries and territories, more than doubled the number of countries where consumers can go to an Apple Store, and the active installed base has expanded to 2.5 billion devices. The specific area of Apple Services, which Cook focused on extensively, is now a business worth more than $100 billion, which is equal to a Fortune 40 company.

As for Ternus, he became a member of Apple's product design team in 2001, a vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013, and joined the executive team as a senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2026. He played an active role in overseeing the hardware engineering work and the introduction of iPads, AirPods, and numerous generations of the iPhone, Mac, and . Other areas of focus for him have been making Apple products more reliable and durable, reducing the carbon footprint emitted by Apple devices, and increasing the lifespan of select products.

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As Apple TV and the company's many products continue to expand, Ternus will oversee a new era for Apple, but Cook will still be involved in an integral role. The developments made during Cook's tenure as CEO have had a significant impact on technology, entertainment, and day-to-day lifestyle, which Ternus can now build upon as new developments move forward.

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