Tim Cook Marks His Final Day As Apple CEO

On 31 August 2026, Tim Cook experienced his final day as Apple's CEO, marking the culmination of a 15-year tenure leading the company. In a heartfelt message on X, Cook expressed his gratitude to the Apple community, stating that although his title would change, the love he felt for the community would remain unwavering. He thanked the community for being a constant source of inspiration and expressed excitement for the next chapter in his life.

Apple's incoming CEO, John Ternus, had a warm welcome from Cook, who praised Ternus' brilliance, capability, and vision for building products that change the world. Cook described Ternus as someone who understood the intricacies of product development and was excited about his leadership. Cook had taken the helm of Apple in August 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs shortly after the latter's death in October of the same year.

Despite stepping down as CEO on 1 September, Cook will continue to play an active role in Apple's operations. As executive chairman, he will oversee the company's relationships with governments, including those of the US and China. Ternus, Apple's current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will assume the role of CEO in the days leading up to Apple's highly anticipated product launch event on 9 September.

Ternus, who is 50 years old, will be the same age Cook was when he became Apple CEO in 2011. At the launch event, Ternus will preside over Apple's unveiling of its latest iPhones and the debut of its first foldable iPhone, marking the first Apple event without Cook's iconic "Good morning" greeting.