It appears that Apple has begun laying the groundwork for a major leadership transition. With CEO Tim Cook approaching retirement age, the company’s board of directors is reportedly evaluating potential successors.
Tim Cook, who succeeded Steve Jobs in August 2011, has led Apple through a period of extraordinary growth and transformation. Under his leadership, Apple’s market value has soared to nearly $4 trillion, making it one of the most valuable companies in history. Industry analysts widely agree that Cook’s steady and disciplined leadership has been the cornerstone of Apple’s success in the past decade.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is now assessing potential successors as Cook nears his 65th birthday. Among the frontrunners is John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Ternus has played a crucial role in shaping the company’s flagship products and guiding its hardware strategy.
Gurman highlights two key factors behind Ternus’s growing prominence: his technical expertise and relatively younger age. With most senior Apple executives now in their sixties, the 50-year-old Ternus represents both continuity and renewal. His engineering-driven background aligns with Apple’s future challenges, particularly in areas where the company has lagged behind rivals — such as generative AI, mixed reality, and smart home technologies.
Reports suggest that Apple’s marketing and communications teams have already started increasing Ternus’s public presence, a move seen by many as a sign of grooming him for the top role. His appearance at Apple’s September event, where he introduced the iPhone Air, was perceived by some analysts as a preview of Apple’s potential next chapter — the era after Tim Cook.