<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Apple has announced its biggest leadership change in 15 years, with Tim Cook set to hand over the role of Chief Executive to hardware boss John Ternus on September 1, 2026. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cook, who took over from the late Steve Jobs in 2011, will remain involved in the company as Executive Chairman, focused on policy engagement and board-level responsibilities. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ternus, 50, has spent almost his entire career at Apple, joining in 2001 and most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-21-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/a3b27603-36a5-443f-95e6-016216aef1ad"><strong><span>Trump says he's 'highly unlikely' to renew ceasefire</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He led the teams behind the iPad, AirPods, and the latest iPhone lineup, including the newly released iPhone Air. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under Cook's leadership, Apple grew its market capitalisation from roughly $350 billion to $4 trillion — a more than tenfold increase. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The company now operates in more than 200 countries, and its products are used by more than 2.5 billion people worldwide. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/apple-ceo-tim-cook-steps-down-as-ceo-who-is-engineering-chief-john-ternus/a69b0252-ab9e-419a-a2e3-b970e1e9c77e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> "It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," Cook said in a statement. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kitty-flipping-drug-trend-combining-ketamine-and-ecstasy-booming-in-australian-cities/cd8c5fa3-745a-4625-b6c7-bf2d3165934c"><strong><span>Inside 'kitty flipping', the recreational drug trend booming in Aussie cities</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> The transition was approved unanimously by Apple's board of directors. Arthur Levinson, Apple's non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will move to the role of Lead Independent Director. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ternus will join the board when he becomes CEO.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong><em><span> Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via </span></strong><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></a><strong><span> and </span></strong><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by </span></strong><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></a></p></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><span>Sign up to </span></strong><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>