Quotes
John Ternus quotes and public statements
Short, sourced quotes from Apple's own pages and from speeches that are on the record. JohnTernusCEO.com has not interviewed John Ternus. Do not cite this page as a primary interview.
Editorial rule
If a quote appears below, it was published by Apple or by a named newsroom / university. This site has not interviewed Ternus. Full texts belong on the original pages.
Apple Newsroom, April 20, 2026 (CEO appointment)
From Apple's succession release, Ternus said he was "profoundly grateful" for the role and that he had been "lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor." He pledged to "lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century."
Read the full statement on Apple Newsroom. Do not treat the shortened lines above as the complete text.
Cook's characterization of Ternus, from the same release:
"John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor."
That is Cook speaking, not Ternus.
Apple Newsroom, September 9, 2026 (iPhone Duo)
At his first fall event as CEO, Apple quoted Ternus on iPhone Duo:
"iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original. With an entirely new design and intuitive experiences, it shows what's possible when hardware and software are engineered together and redefines what it means to use a foldable phone."
And:
"With the largest display ever on iPhone that still fits easily in your pocket, combined with the power of A20 Pro, iPhone Duo helps you stay more immersed and productive wherever you go, whether you're enjoying content, multitasking across apps, or gaming."
Source: Apple unveils iPhone Duo. Context: first event as CEO.
Reuters reported that in the same event he framed the iPhone as an "intelligent personal hub" that ran AI on-device when possible, with privacy as a differentiator. That paraphrase is Reuters, not a second Apple transcript.
Penn Engineering commencement, 2024
The Daily Pennsylvanian covered his undergraduate commencement address at Penn Engineering. Two details from that public talk are widely repeated:
- He described an early supplier-factory night arguing about the number of grooves on a screw head — 35 instead of 25 — as a story about caring about details.
- He said colleagues nicknamed him "Crash" after an incident with Penn's CNC milling machine his senior year.
Those are speech anecdotes, not Apple press-kit slogans. For the university years, see education.
How to cite a Ternus quote
- Prefer Apple Newsroom or a full video/transcript.
- Name the date and the occasion (succession, product event, commencement).
- Do not upgrade a paraphrase ("he talked about privacy") into quotation marks.
- Do not cite JohnTernusCEO.com as if we were in the room.
A running list of appearances is on interviews. Leadership adjectives from journalists belong on the leadership page, labeled as reporting.
Frequently asked questions
What are John Ternus's most cited quotes?
His April 2026 succession statement thanking Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, and his September 2026 line that iPhone Duo is 'the most transformational change to iPhone since the original.'
Has this website interviewed John Ternus?
No. Quotes here come from Apple statements and from speeches or interviews published by other outlets.
Where can I read his CEO appointment statement?
Apple Newsroom, April 20, 2026. The full text is on apple.com, not reconstructed here.
Related reading
Sources
- Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman; John Ternus to become Apple CEO (Apple Newsroom)
- Apple unveils iPhone Duo (Apple Newsroom)
- Penn alum John Ternus named next Apple CEO (The Daily Pennsylvanian)
- Penn knew Apple’s next CEO long before the world did (The Daily Pennsylvanian)
- 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.