On April 20, 2026, Apple announced that Tim Cook will become Executive Chairman of the Board, and John Ternus — Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering — will become Apple’s next Chief Executive Officer on September 1, 2026. The transition was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors following a long-term succession planning process.
When Ternus takes over, he will become only the third person to hold the CEO role in Apple’s history, following Steve Jobs and Tim Cook.
From Mechanical Engineer to CEO: The Career of John Ternus
Ternus received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. While at Penn, he competed on the men’s swimming team. For his senior project, he developed a mechanical feeding arm operable by individuals with quadriplegia using head movements.
Before joining Apple, Ternus worked at Virtual Research Systems, a company focused on virtual reality hardware. At the time, VR was still in its early stages, but the work exposed him to cutting-edge technology and the challenges of building devices that could change how people interact with machines.
He joined Apple in 2001 as an engineer on the design team. During a commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania’s engineering school in 2024, Ternus described his first day at the company as “exhilarating and intimidating.” “I wasn’t sure I belonged there,” he recalled. “The people I met were so smart and so confident, and they knew so much more than me, but I’ll always be grateful that I wasn’t afraid to ask for help when I needed it.”
His earliest project at Apple involved scrutinizing parts for the Apple Cinema Display. In a commencement speech at his alma mater, he recalled spending the early hours of the morning at a supplier facility, using a magnifying glass to count the grooves on the head of a screw and arguing with the supplier over a discrepancy.
By 2013, he was appointed Vice President of Hardware Engineering under Dan Riccio, overseeing the development of AirPods, Mac, and iPad. In 2020, he was also put in charge of iPhone hardware. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021, replacing Riccio, and was put in charge of Apple Watch hardware in late 2022.
The Hardware Legacy He Leaves Behind
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
Throughout his tenure at Apple, Ternus oversaw hardware engineering across every major product category — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro.
One of his most significant contributions was leading the transition of Mac computers from Intel processors to Apple’s own M-series chips. The move to Apple Silicon was a bold step, and Ternus led the teams that made it possible.
More recently, Ternus was involved in the production of the MacBook Neo, Apple’s more affordable laptop model that uses an iPhone chip to reduce costs while maintaining Apple’s standard of quality. He has also become a familiar face at Apple events, presenting new products to the world with confidence.
A Leadership Style Grounded in Engineering Culture
Bloomberg described Ternus as “charismatic and well-liked” within Apple. Unlike many CEOs who prioritize marketing or finance, Ternus is known as a product-first leader. Even as a Senior Vice President, he reportedly sat in an open-plan area with his engineers rather than a private executive office. His public appearances at Apple events often focus on how technology serves the user — reflecting the intersection of liberal arts and technology championed by Steve Jobs.
The New Leadership Structure at Apple
Johny Srouji, in an expanded role, and Tom Marieb will take over Ternus’s hardware engineering responsibilities effective immediately, ahead of the CEO transition on September 1.
Cook will remain CEO through the summer, working closely with Ternus on the transition. As Executive Chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers. Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for 15 years, will become the lead independent director on September 1, 2026.
At 51, Ternus mirrors Cook’s age when he became CEO in 2011, positioning him for potentially a decade or more of leadership — a longevity factor that likely appealed to Apple’s board.
What Comes Next: AI, Hardware, and the Road Ahead
The most prominent question surrounding Ternus is Apple’s position in AI. Analyst Dan Ives noted there will be significant pressure on Ternus to deliver results early, particularly on the AI front.
Apple has already been making moves — in December, the company replaced its former AI chief with a Google veteran and announced plans to launch an updated version of Siri based on a Google Gemini AI model.
His background in hardware engineering is widely expected to shape Apple’s approach: the company has consistently anchored its AI strategy in on-device processing and tightly integrated hardware and software, rather than relying on large cloud-based infrastructure in the way that many of its competitors have.
Ternus officially starts as CEO on September 1, 2026 — just ahead of Apple’s biggest product launch event of the year, with over ten new products rumored to debut under his leadership.
A Considered Transition at a Critical Moment
John Ternus steps into the role with 25 years of institutional knowledge, a product record spanning Apple’s most recognized hardware, and a working style that has earned him trust across the organization. His appointment reflects a deliberate internal succession process rather than a reactive one.
Ternus expressed his own sense of responsibility at the announcement: “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.”
The transition marks a new chapter for Apple — shaped by someone who has spent his career building the products the company is known for, and who now carries the responsibility of determining what comes next.
