CEO
Who is Apple's new CEO?
Apple's new CEO is John Ternus. He took office on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook. Apple announced the appointment on April 20, 2026. Cook remains at Apple as executive chairman.
Short answer. Apple's new CEO is John Ternus. He took the job on September 1, 2026. Tim Cook is no longer CEO. Cook is executive chairman. Apple announced the change on April 20, 2026.
Who is the new CEO of Apple?
John Ternus is the new CEO of Apple. He is an American mechanical engineer who joined Apple in 2001, led Hardware Engineering from 2021 to 2026, and succeeded Tim Cook on September 1, 2026.
Searches for "Apple new CEO," "new Apple CEO," "new CEO of Apple," and "Apple CEO name" all resolve to the same person and the same date.
When did Apple announce a new CEO?
April 20, 2026. Apple's newsroom said Cook would become executive chairman and Ternus would become CEO effective September 1, 2026. The board approved the plan unanimously, Apple said. Arthur Levinson became lead independent director on the same date. Ternus joined the board as CEO.
That announcement is the primary source. Later news coverage restates it.
Is Tim Cook gone?
No. Cook left the CEO title, not the company. Apple said that as executive chairman he "will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world."
If the question is "who runs Apple day to day," the answer Apple published is John Ternus. If the question is "did Cook retire," the answer is not in the sense of leaving. See the Cook–Ternus transition.
Why did Apple pick Ternus?
Apple's own framing: a 25-year hardware engineer who worked under Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, credited with iPad and AirPods as product lines and with generations of iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch hardware.
Newsrooms add the contrast: Cook came from operations; Ternus came from product engineering. That contrast is journalism, not an Apple slogan. It is still the most common way the succession is explained.
A longer sourced career is on the biography and career / CV pages.
What has Ternus done as CEO so far?
Confirmed On **September 9, 2026**, eight days after taking office, Ternus led Apple's fall product event — branded "Surprise and Shine" — and introduced **iPhone Duo**, Apple's first foldable iPhone, plus the **iPhone 18 Pro** lineup. Apple's newsroom quotes him calling Duo "the most transformational change to iPhone since the original."That event is his first public product keynote as CEO. Details: first Apple event as CEO and iPhone Duo.
Quick facts for "Apple's new CEO"
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | John Ternus (John Patrick Ternus in some biographical accounts) |
| Company | Apple Inc. |
| Title | Chief executive officer |
| Start date | September 1, 2026 |
| Announced | April 20, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Tim Cook (CEO 2011–2026; now executive chairman) |
| Previous Apple job | Senior vice president, Hardware Engineering (2021–2026) |
| Joined Apple | 2001 |
| Education | Mechanical engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 1997 |
| Age as of Sept 2026 | 51 (born May 1975) |
Apple CEOs, in order
Ternus is commonly listed as Apple's eighth chief executive. The sequence used by Apple-history roundups:
- Michael Scott (1977–1981)
- Mike Markkula (1981–1983)
- John Sculley (1983–1993)
- Michael Spindler (1993–1996)
- Gil Amelio (1996–1997)
- Steve Jobs (1997–2011)
- Tim Cook (2011–2026)
- John Ternus (2026–present)
A dedicated list lives at Apple CEOs in order.
Official pages vs this site
- Apple: Newsroom, April 20, 2026
- Apple: Leadership — John Ternus
- This site: As CEO and day-one news briefing
JohnTernusCEO.com is independent. It is not affiliated with Apple Inc. or John Ternus.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Apple's new CEO?
John Ternus. He became chief executive officer of Apple Inc. on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook.
Who is the new CEO of Apple in 2026?
John Ternus, previously Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. The effective date was September 1, 2026.
When did Apple get a new CEO?
September 1, 2026. Apple announced the succession on April 20, 2026.
Is Tim Cook still Apple's CEO?
No. Cook left the CEO role on September 1, 2026 and became executive chairman of Apple's board. He is still at the company.
Who was Apple CEO before John Ternus?
Tim Cook, from 2011 until August 31, 2026. Cook succeeded Steve Jobs.
Is John Ternus Apple's 8th CEO?
Yes. In chronological order the public-company-era list commonly given is Scott, Markkula, Sculley, Spindler, Amelio, Jobs, Cook, Ternus.
Related reading
Sources
- Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman; John Ternus to become Apple CEO (Apple Newsroom)
- Apple Leadership — John Ternus (Apple)
- Apple unveils iPhone Duo (Apple Newsroom)
- Apple Begins Its Next Balancing Act as New C.E.O. Takes Over (The New York Times)
- John Ternus named as Apple chief executive to replace Tim Cook (BBC News)
- Five takeaways from Apple’s biggest product showcase of the year (Reuters)
Last updated 2026-09-11. Dates change only when the page is actually revised.