Meet John Ternus, the Apple exec who replaced Tim Cook as CEO

John Ternus, who previously held the position of head of hardware engineering at Apple, succeeded Tim Cook as the company's CEO on Tuesday. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, is renowned for his expertise in hardware engineering, having showcased Apple's innovations at significant events such as WWDC. This makes Ternus the first CEO with a product design background in Apple's history, following Steve Jobs, who was known for his product-focused approach.

As Apple faces challenges related to product innovation and operational pressures, including price hikes on MacBooks and iPads, regulatory issues in Europe regarding AI, and the imminent launch of a potentially foldable iPhone, Ternus assumes the role with Cook's endorsement as "one of a kind" and a seamless transition. Cook, who will continue as executive chairman, expressed confidence in Ternus's abilities and character, looking forward to collaborating closely on the leadership transition.

Ternus, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an engineering degree in 1997, has a strong background in product design, having worked on various Apple products including every iPad model and AirPods, under Steve Jobs' guidance. As the new CEO, Ternus will undertake Apple's upcoming "Surprise and Shine" hardware event on September 9, where the company will unveil its latest iPhone lineup.