Apple, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, has announced that John Ternus, until now Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will replace Tim Cook as CEO of the company starting September 1 of this year. The movement, as Apple has stated in a statement, is the result of “a thorough long-term succession planning process”.

Tim Cook will become Executive Chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors, but will continue to develop his CEO duties over the summer, and work with Ternus to ensure the smooth transition. Once he assumes his new role, he will collaborate in various aspects of the company, including interacting with policy makers around the world.

For his part, the position held until now by John Ternus will be assumed by Johny Srouji, who until now served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies. However, the role will be that of Hardware Director, including competencies in both hardware engineering and technology.

Tim Cook, 15 years at the head of Apple

The move marks the end of a stage in the company, after 15 years of leadership by Tim Cook, who assures that being CEO of Apple has been “the greatest privilege“of his life.”I love Apple with all my being and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a team of resourceful, innovative, creative and committed people who have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”, he commented.

Furthermore, in a letter shared by the company, the manager wanted to thank the team, collaborators and consumers. “Thank you for the trust and kindness you have shown me. Thank you for greeting me on the street and in our stores. Thank you for celebrating with me when we introduce a new product or service. Thank you, above all, for believing in me to lead the company that has always put you at the center of our work. Every day we wake up thinking about what we can do to improve your life a little. And every day, you have made mine the best I could have ever wished for.”, he expressed.

Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998, and became CEO in 2011. The company has highlighted his oversight of the launch of new products and services, as well as the expansion of existing products. He assures that the manager has contributed substantially to boosting Apple’s capitalization, as well as the brand’s global presence and product penetration.

As he explains, Cook has been instrumental in the expansion of Apple services, as well as in the creation of the portable device category or in the transition to chips designed by the company itself. Furthermore, consider that “Cook has made Apple’s core values ​​even more central to decision-making and product development” and “has defended privacy as a fundamental human rightDe Cook also says that he has driven continued innovation in the area of ​​accessibility, guided by the idea that Apple should be a place where everyone feels part of the community and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

New stage at Apple with John Ternus

For his part, John Ternus says he feels honored and grateful for the opportunity the company offers him and promises to lead with the values ​​and vision that have defined Apple for half a century. “I have been fortunate to work with Steve Jobs and to have Tim Cook as a mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have transformed the way we interact with the world and each other.“; he commented in the statement. “I’m optimistic about what we can accomplish in the coming years, and I’m glad to know that the most talented people in the world are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any of us.”.

Ternus, who has a background in mechanical engineering, has developed the bulk of his professional career at Apple, which he joined in 2001. For 25 years he has held different positions within the hardware area, such as Vice President of Hardware Engineering, which he assumed in 2013, or Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, in 2021.

According to the company itself, Ternus was instrumental in the launch of multiple new product lines, including the iPad and AirPods, as well as several generations of products for the iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch. Among other things, its leadership in areas such as reliability and durability stands out, introducing techniques to enhance the resistance of products; as well as its commitment to innovation both in materials and hardware design that have reduced the carbon footprint, and in repairability for the useful life of the products.