Tim Cook stepped down as Apple CEO on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, ending 15 years at the helm just eight days before the company's major September product event in Cupertino, California. John Ternus has succeeded him as chief executive, although Cook is not leaving Apple and has instead become executive chairman.
The timing places Ternus in charge for Apple's 9 September event, when the company is expected to unveil its next generation of iPhones. But there is no evidence that Cook timed his departure specifically to hand his successor a headline-making product launch. Apple announced the leadership transition in April, describing it as the result of a 'thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.'
