Apple is handing over the reins to a familiar face, naming John Ternus as its next chief executive as Tim Cook prepares to step aside after more than a decade leading Apple Inc. through one of the most transformative periods in its history

The leadership change marks the end of an era for the iPhone maker, coming at a time when competitors are betting heavily on AI-driven products to challenge Apple’s grip on the consumer electronics market. Ternus, a veteran of Apple’s product design team since 2001, has steadily risen through the ranks, becoming vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 before joining the executive team in 2021.

Over the years, he has overseen some of Apple’s most important hardware efforts, including teams behind the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods. His influence has been particularly notable in reviving the Mac lineup, which has gained market share in recent years. Most recently, he unveiled the iPhone Air, described as the company’s biggest redesign since 2017.

Ternus will officially take over as CEO on September 1 and will also join Apple’s board. At 50, he is the same age Cook was when he succeeded co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011. Cook, who has led Apple for over a decade, will transition into the role of executive chairman, maintaining a presence in shaping the company’s long-term direction.

Before joining Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

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