John Ternus: Who is Apple’s new CEO leading the company into the AI era?

John Ternus, a longtime Apple engineer, has taken over as the company's new CEO, succeeding Tim Cook on September 1, 2026. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has extensive experience working on products across the company's main categories, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. His background in engineering and hardware makes him a fitting choice to lead Apple into the AI era.

Upon his appointment, Ternus pledged to lead with Apple's core values and vision, vowing to address the company's gap with AI rivals while protecting its hardware strength. He specifically mentioned the importance of hardware and AI working together, acknowledging the challenges posed by the growing demand for AI features in Apple devices.

Ternus' appointment reflects Apple's strategy of doubling down on hardware innovation as a core strategy. The company's success in the past was largely driven by Tim Cook's operations expertise, which included building a complex global supply chain and expanding Apple's services business. With Cook stepping down to become Apple's executive chairman, Ternus now faces the task of ensuring Apple remains competitive in the AI landscape while preserving its hardware strengths.

Ternus will receive a substantial compensation package for his new role, including an annual salary of $3 million and an equity award worth $55 million. The performance-based portion of the equity award will be tied to Apple's total shareholder return relative to other companies in the S&P 500. Ternus also received a prorated restricted stock award worth $2.5 million for his service as CEO during fiscal 2026.

As Apple prepares for its September product launch, Ternus faces his first major public test as CEO. He will need to demonstrate that the company can continue to innovate and remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI industry, while also maintaining its hardware strengths.