Apple Plans Succession As Tim Cook Prepares To Step Down

Apple is accelerating succession planning as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook prepares to leave the company, potentially next year.

The Board and senior executives have increased focus on the transition, though no CEO is expected to be named before the next earnings report in late January 2026.

John Ternus, senior Vice President (VP) of Hardware Engineering, is widely seen as a likely successor, as per the sources of Financial Times, but no final decision has been made. An early-year announcement would allow the new leader to prepare for Apple’s annual keynote, developer conference, and iPhone launch. Apple has experienced several executive departures this year, including CFO Luca Maestri and COO Jeff Williams. Cook, who took over from Steve Jobs in 2011, has overseen Apple’s growth from a USD 350 billion to a USD 4 trillion company. He has expressed a preference for an internal successor.