Apple names John Ternus as new CEO, Tim Cook to become executive chairman

Company says Ternus will take over as CEO on September 1, while outgoing chief Tim Cook will move into the role of executive chairman

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 21^st, 2026) Apple has announced a major leadership transition, appointing longtime hardware executive John Ternus as its next Chief Executive Officer, marking a new chapter for the iPhone maker as it faces growing competition in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.

The company said Ternus will take over as CEO on September 1, while outgoing chief Tim Cook will move into the role of executive chairman.

Apple Inc. stated that the leadership change comes at a critical moment as the company works to strengthen its position in AI-driven innovation, an area where it has lagged behind key rivals.

Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, oversaw an unprecedented rise in the company’s market value, which expanded by trillions of Dollars during his tenure. He originally joined Apple under co-founder Steve Jobs and is widely credited with building one of the world’s most efficient global supply chains.

Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has played a key role in the development of major hardware products, including Mac computers, iPads, and AirPods. Although he has maintained a relatively low public profile, Apple has gradually increased his visibility in recent years through product launches and media appearances.

At 50, Ternus is seen as part of Apple’s internal leadership pipeline, similar in age to Cook when he assumed the top role. His elevation comes as the company works to regain momentum in AI and product innovation.

The transition is taking place as Apple faces increasing competition from companies focused on artificial intelligence and next-generation hardware. Analysts say integrating advanced AI capabilities into the iPhone remains one of the company’s biggest challenges in the coming years.

Apple has already taken steps in this direction, including collaboration with Alphabet’s Google to integrate Gemini technology into improvements for its Siri voice assistant. However, critics note that Apple has yet to deliver a breakthrough AI product comparable to emerging platforms like ChatGPT.

Industry experts believe Ternus will be tasked with strengthening Apple’s in-house AI capabilities while reducing reliance on external partners.

The company has also been expanding its hardware vision beyond smartphones, with increased focus on emerging technologies such as mixed reality, wearable devices, and advanced computing systems. Rival firms like Meta Platforms are already gaining traction in augmented reality, while NVIDIA continues to expand into consumer hardware and AI computing.

Cook’s tenure is widely viewed as one of the most successful in corporate history, with Apple becoming one of the world’s most valuable companies under his leadership. His management style emphasized operational efficiency and global manufacturing partnerships, particularly in Asia.

Despite diversification efforts in countries like India and Vietnam, Apple still relies heavily on its established supply chain networks in China.

Cook will continue to represent Apple in strategic and policy discussions even after stepping down as CEO, the company said.

Separately, Apple also announced changes in its hardware leadership structure. Johny Srouji, who led the company’s custom chip development, has been promoted to chief hardware officer, while parts of the hardware engineering division previously overseen by Ternus will now report to Tom Merieb.