Apple’s 50th anniversary brings a major shake-up as Tim Cook passes the baton — who is new CEO John Ternus?

Did your feed get flooded with the latest Apple news when you checked your phone this morning? That’s right: Tim Cook, the friendly face who always opens keynotes with a “Good Morning” and brings countless surprises, has announced that he’ll be handing over the reins. The Apple Watch on your wrist and the AirPods in your ears have, over the years, witnessed this tech giant’s transformation. Now, Apple is preparing to enter a new chapter. POPBEE has rounded up the key details of this major leadership change and introduces the person set to take over the tech empire.

• Related reading: What women should know before buying a MacBook Neo: It’s not just beautiful – once you try it, you’ll find it’s more impressive than expected

Is the Tim Cook era that has grown alongside us about to come to an end?

Many people’s first reaction to the news was, “Is Tim Cook really leaving Apple?” There’s no need to worry. Apple has confirmed that Tim Cook will officially step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, though he isn’t leaving the company. Instead, he’ll become executive chairman of Apple’s board. This summer, he’ll remain CEO and work closely with his successor to ensure a smooth transition.

Looking back over the past 15 years, Tim Cook’s track record is impressive. Since taking over in 2011, Apple’s market value has surged from about US$ 350 billion to US$ 4 trillion, an increase of more than 1,000%. He has introduced era-defining products including the Apple Watch, AirPods, and the latest Apple Vision Pro, while also cutting the company’s carbon footprint by more than 60%. For many Apple fans, he’s more than an outstanding leader – he’s the figure who has made the brand’s values resonate deeply.

Meet Apple’s new CEO John Ternus and learn about his extensive experience

With Tim Cook moving into a behind-the-scenes role, people are naturally curious about who Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, is. He isn’t an outside executive brought in to lead the company, but a longtime Apple veteran who has quietly contributed to the company for 25 years. Ternus joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and was promoted to senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2021. Tim Cook praised him as having “the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and a heart that leads with integrity and honor.”

Unlike many executives, John Ternus is a product person through and through. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems before joining Apple. Over the years, he has personally taken part in the hardware development of every core product. If Tim Cook was responsible for taking Apple global, John Ternus is the gatekeeper who ensures every device in users’ hands works perfectly.

From the MacBook Neo to the iPhone Air, his work is behind them all

The list of Apple products John Ternus has worked on may surprise you, since he has had a hand in nearly all the devices we rely on every day. He led the development of several iPad and AirPods product lines, while the recently well-received iPhone 17, which many women can’t put down, and the ultra-thin iPhone Air were all carefully developed by his team.

More impressively, he led his team in turning AirPods into the world’s best in-ear headphones, bringing unprecedented active noise cancellation and even making them available as over-the-counter hearing aids. John Ternus has also made major contributions to materials innovation. For instance, the 3D-printed titanium used in the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the recycled aluminum widely used across multiple products have greatly improved durability and environmental value.

What changes will Apple’s new era bring?

As he prepares to take office on September 1, 2026, John Ternus says he feels incredibly fortunate to have worked under Steve Jobs and had Tim Cook as a mentor. With new leadership at Apple, the company’s future direction has naturally become a focus of public interest. Based on his past focus on product durability, environmentally friendly materials, and innovation in hardware technology, future Apple products will surely place even greater emphasis on detail and sustainability.

For everyday users, the biggest question is whether future phones, headphones, and computers will become even easier to use. With a new leader who deeply understands hardware technology and is passionate about innovation, Apple will likely introduce more impressive designs in the years ahead. This generational transition is more than a change in title; it marks the beginning of a new phase in technology.

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