Apple CEO Tim Cook Steps Down, John Ternus to Take Over in September

Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down in September 2026, handing the top job to company veteran John Ternus while becoming executive chairman. The 65-year-old Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs' departure, expanding Apple's product line and growing the company's value to $4 trillion.

Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and has worked on iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and Mac computers, will take the helm as Apple faces critical challenges in artificial intelligence. The tech giant appears to be lagging behind rivals Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI in AI development, with a delayed Siri upgrade and reliance on Google for AI capabilities.

This leadership transition comes as Apple marks its 50th anniversary and confronts questions about its ability to deliver the next culture-changing innovation. Cook's departure raises expectations for Ternus to accelerate Apple's AI strategy while maintaining the company's market dominance in smartphones and wearables.

Will Ternus succeed where Cook struggled to deliver a transformative 'big thing,' or can Apple maintain its premium positioning without revolutionary new products?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/20/apples-tim-cook-to-step-down-as-ceo-in-september/