Apple’s Tim Cook spends final days as CEO preparing Ternus for Sept. 1 handoff

Tim Cook is spending his final days as Apple ↗ 1.76% chief executive preparing his successor for what comes next. On Thursday, Cook shared a video on social media showing Pikachu roaming the Apple Park campus, where Cook and incoming CEO John Ternus met with the Pokémon team to "talk gaming" — a lighthearted moment amid a historic leadership transition at one of the world's most valuable companies.macrumors

Cook will officially step down on September 1, with Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, taking over as CEO. Cook will remain at Apple as executive chairman, a role focused on policy engagement and strategic counsel.cnbc+1

A 15-Year Run Comes to a Close

Apple announced the transition in April, when the company said Cook would hand the reins to Ternus after 15 years leading the iPhone maker. Cook succeeded Steve Jobs as CEO in August 2011 and oversaw Apple's transformation into a broader technology and services company, expanding into wearables, custom silicon, and a services business now generating tens of billions in annual revenue.varindia+2

On his final earnings call on July 30, Cook thanked shareholders and confirmed that Ternus would take over on September 1. Apple held a farewell celebration for Cook at Apple Park on August 23, a day before his 15th anniversary as CEO. About 200 people attended the gathering, which featured a performance by OneRepublic and tributes from Laurene Powell Jobs, former COO Jeff Williams, services chief Eddy Cue, and Ternus himself.macrumors+2

The Ternus Era Begins

Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and has led hardware engineering since 2021, inherits the company at a pivotal moment. Apple is expected to hold a product event in early September, where the company is widely anticipated to unveil its first foldable iPhone. A touchscreen Mac is also expected later this year.finance.yahoo

TECHnalysis Research President Bob O'Donnell told Yahoo Finance that Ternus "brings back that kind of notion of a visionary leader" with strong product instincts, contrasting with Cook's operational strengths. O'Donnell also pointed to Apple's need to deliver on artificial intelligence, noting that the next version of Siri will be a critical test for the new CEO.finance.yahoo

What Comes Next

Cook has said he hopes to be remembered as "a good and decent man" and has largely avoided characterizing his own legacy. As executive chairman, he plans to continue assisting Apple with government relations and policymaker engagement worldwide. Apple has signaled that few immediate organizational changes are expected under Ternus, emphasizing continuity during the transition.appleinsider+1