Apple has formally entered a new leadership era, with John Ternus assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer and bringing an extensive hardware engineering background to the top job at the technology giant.

Ternus took over on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook, who leaves the CEO position after 15 years and moves into the role of Executive Chairman of Apple’s board.

The leadership change comes at a crucial point for Apple as the company confronts a rapidly changing technology landscape, particularly the intensifying global race in artificial intelligence.

Ternus, 51, brings more than two decades of experience at Apple to the position. He joined the company in 2001 and rose through its hardware engineering division before becoming Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021.

During that period, he played a major role in the development of several of Apple’s flagship products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac and AirPods. His appointment therefore puts a veteran product engineer at the centre of the company’s next phase of growth.

His promotion also marks a significant change in leadership style after Cook’s long tenure. Under Cook, Apple expanded dramatically, with its market value climbing to about $4.6 trillion as the iPhone continued to drive enormous demand.

Now, however, Ternus inherits an industry undergoing one of its biggest technological shifts since Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007. Artificial intelligence has rapidly reshaped competition across the technology sector, and Apple has faced criticism over the pace of its AI development.

The company encountered delays in delivering some of the AI capabilities it had previously promised, increasing pressure on its leadership to accelerate its response.

Apple has nevertheless continued to invest in the technology. The company has unveiled AI related improvements, including enhancements to its Siri digital assistant, while emphasising privacy and practical applications for everyday users.

For Ternus, the challenge will extend beyond his traditional hardware expertise. He must now help sharpen Apple’s AI strategy while maintaining the company’s reputation for tightly integrated hardware and software products.

At the same time, the new CEO will have to manage complex supply chain issues and navigate an increasingly difficult global trade environment.

Those external pressures could make stakeholder relationships just as important as product development. Cook spent years cultivating relationships with influential political and business figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump, while steering Apple through trade disputes and tariff pressures affecting manufacturing operations in Asia.

Although Cook has relinquished day to day control, his move to Executive Chairman is expected to preserve continuity in Apple’s external relationships and provide Ternus with an experienced hand at the board level.

Meanwhile, Ternus is entering the CEO role with a substantial compensation package. His remuneration for fiscal 2027 is expected to reach $58 million, comprising a $3 million base salary and $55 million in stock awards.

With the transition now complete, Apple is effectively combining continuity with a new leadership approach. Cook remains within the company’s senior leadership structure, while Ternus takes responsibility for steering the technology giant through the next stage of innovation.

The immediate task for the new CEO will be to build on Apple’s hardware strength while closing gaps in artificial intelligence, managing supply chain pressures and sustaining the company’s enormous global business as the technology industry enters another period of rapid transformation.