Apple CEO Tim Cook could step down as early as 2026, with hardware executive John Ternus the likely successor
The Financial Times reported, citing multiple sources, that Apple is in the process of selecting a successor to Tim Cook, who has served as CEO since 2011. Cook is expected to step down as early as 2026.
Apple intensifies succession planning for CEO Tim Cook
Report claims Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO
https://www.ithinkdiff.com/tim-cook-could-step-down-apple-ceo/
Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO 'as soon as next year' - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/14/tim-cook-step-down-as-apple-ceo-as-soon-as-next-year-report/
Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year' - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/15/report-tim-cook-to-step-down-as-soon-as-next-year/
Tim Cook became CEO in August 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs, who had to step down due to health issues.
Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO - GIGAZINE
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He has led Apple for the past 14 years. While other major tech company CEOs, including Mark Zuckerberg, are younger than Cook, including Microsoft's Satya Nadella, who took over in February 2014 , Google's Sundar Pichai in 2015, and Amazon's Andy Jassy, who took over in February 2021 , Cook has been at the helm of his company for a considerable period of time.
A change in CEO is a major event for a company. In the case of Intel, where Lip-Vu Tan will take over as CEO in 2025, the reason for the change in CEO is cited as the company's struggles with performance under Pat Gelsinger, who served as CEO from 2021 to 2024. Tan has expressed his enthusiasm as CEO, saying, 'I want to make Intel a company that is focused on engineering.'
Intel appoints former director Lip Vu Tan as new CEO - GIGAZINE
However, Apple is doing well, so other reasons are likely at play. One is that Cook turned 65, which is generally considered retirement age in the United States.
Another factor is the departure of executives in 2025. CFO Luca Maestri, who retired in January 2025, and COO Jeff Williams, who retired in July 2025, were both seen as candidates who could succeed CEO Cook.
The most likely candidate to remain is John Tarnus, senior vice president of hardware engineering. If Tarnus, 50, succeeds Cook, he could potentially establish a long-term reign, just like Cook.
However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, an Apple insider, acknowledged that 'Apple is considering a management shakeup, and that Turnas is a strong candidate to succeed Cook,' but added that he doesn't think the change will happen immediately.
As I wrote a month ago, Apple is due for a major management shake-up and the spotlight is squarely on John Ternus as Tim Cook's successor as CEO. But I don't get the sense anything is imminent as the @FT is claiming. https://t.co/fIGNw4VfiT
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) November 15, 2025
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