191: Tim Cook Is Out as Apple CEO
From The MacRumors Show by The MacRumors Show
April 24, 2026 · 37 min · Episode 191
About this episode
This episode discusses Tim Cook's announcement to step down as CEO of Apple and the succession plan involving John Ternus.
On this week's special episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's bombshell announcement that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to succeed him. Cook will transition to executive chairman, where he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world." The transition was approved by the board and is the result of a "thoughtful, long-term succession planning process." Current board chair Arthur Levinson will become the lead independent director. Cook has served as Apple's CEO since 2011. Ternus, who has spent nearly his entire career at Apple, will join the board ahead of assuming the CEO role. He is a product person in the mold of Steve Jobs rather than a supply chain operator like Cook, and according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, he is expected to take a more centralized approach to decision-making. "If you go to Tim with 'A' or 'B,' he won't pick," one person who has worked closely with both executives told Gurman. "Ternus will make decisions." Ternus will take over in time to oversee the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple's first foldable iPhone…
People in this episode
Host: The MacRumors Show
Topics covered
- Apple leadership transition
- Tim Cook
- John Ternus
- iPhone 18 Pro
- foldable iPhone
- succession planning
Keywords
- Tim Cook
- John Ternus
- Apple CEO
- leadership transition
- iPhone 18 Pro
- foldable iPhone
- succession planning
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Apple
Products: iPhone 18 Pro, foldable iPhone
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