End of an era: Tim Cook exits Apple CEO role after 15 years

Tim Cook will step down as chief executive officer of Apple Inc., ending a transformative 15-year tenure that saw the company’s market value surge by more than Sh464.4 trillion ($3.6 trillion).

Cook, who succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011, will transition to executive chairman, while longtime executive John Ternus will take over as CEO from September 1, 2026.

The move, unanimously approved by Apple’s board, follows what the company described as a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.”

Cook will remain CEO through the summer, working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth transition before taking on advisory and policy-focused duties.

Reflecting on his tenure, Cook said, “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. 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.”

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He added, “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor… He is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”

Ternus, who has spent nearly his entire career at Apple, called the appointment a profound honor. “I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” he said, adding he is “filled with optimism” about the company’s future.

Outgoing non-executive chairman Arthur Levinson praised Cook’s leadership as “unprecedented and outstanding,” saying he transformed Apple into “the world’s best company.” Levinson will become lead independent director, while Ternus joins the board.

Since 2011, Apple’s market capitalisation has grown from about Sh45.2 trillion ($350 billion) to roughly Sh516–520 trillion ($4 trillion), while annual revenue nearly quadrupled to over Sh53.6–54.1 trillion ($416 billion) in fiscal 2025.

Under Cook, Apple launched products such as the Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro, and expanded services including iCloud, Apple Pay, Apple Music and Apple TV+.

Cook also embedded sustainability, privacy and accessibility into Apple’s strategy, cutting its carbon footprint by more than 60 percent since 2015 while nearly doubling revenue.

Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has helped shape key products including the iPhone, Mac and iPad, and led advances in Apple silicon and materials engineering.