John Ternus is now one of the most powerful people in the world. But that power came quietly, and slowly: the public was introduced to him as he gradually appeared in more and more of Apple's launch keynotes, where he would be relied on to introduce new hardware innovations, with a particular focus in recent years on Apple Silicon, the lauded new chips that he helped to develop.
That introduction – quiet, professional, product-focused – is itself a reflection of the person. Announcing that he would stand down as chief executive and make way for John Ternus, Tim Cook said his replacement "has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour". Ternus's engineer's mind has allowed him to lead many of Apple's biggest successes in recent years, but appears to reflect his personality too. That marks a major if muted change at the top of one of the most important institutions in the world.
